The Uk's oldest manufacturing company, The Whitechapel Bell Foundry will cease trading in May 2017 due to a serious downturn in orders. The family owned firm, which has existed since the reign of Elizabeth l Was founded in 1570, moved to it's present location in 1738 and has since become famous throughout the world for the bells which are produced there.
Notably in 1747 a set of bells were produced and exported to St Petersburg in Russia and in 1752 a 907kg bell was cast and sent to Philadelphia in the USA Later the bell was rung to call the city's residents to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, the bell later became known as the Liberty Bell.
Also the bell for Big Ben, weighing in at thirteen and a half tons, the largest bell cast by the company. In 1971 The foundry cast ten bells for Westminster Abbey, also a Memorial Bell in 2012 to be rung in repatriation ceremonies, for soldiers killed in foreign lands.
The company is seeking a buyer who will keep the firm name and traditions in production, although the present site will be sold.
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