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Loughborough Victorian bell foundry in £3m fundraising bid | Loughborough Victorian bell foundry in £3m fundraising bid |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A foundry that has been making bells for more than 200 years has begun an attempt to raise £3m to save its Victorian building. | |
Taylor's Bell Foundry in Loughborough, Leicestershire, made the Great Paul bell in 1881 for St Paul's Cathedral. | Taylor's Bell Foundry in Loughborough, Leicestershire, made the Great Paul bell in 1881 for St Paul's Cathedral. |
The firm has begun a fundraising campaign with English Heritage in an bid to repair its crumbling building. | The firm has begun a fundraising campaign with English Heritage in an bid to repair its crumbling building. |
Spokesman Mike Semken said the foundry was "damp and leaks like a sieve". | Spokesman Mike Semken said the foundry was "damp and leaks like a sieve". |
"Working here is a challenge but we love it," Mr Semken said. "It's an amazing place - full of dark corners and fascinating stories." | "Working here is a challenge but we love it," Mr Semken said. "It's an amazing place - full of dark corners and fascinating stories." |
'Time capsule' | 'Time capsule' |
Mr Semken said one of the main problems was the building's roof, which was leaking after decades of decay. | Mr Semken said one of the main problems was the building's roof, which was leaking after decades of decay. |
The leaks have been causing water damage in the template room, which stores the designs of every bell made by the company. | The leaks have been causing water damage in the template room, which stores the designs of every bell made by the company. |
"This is the hub of the product - without these templates and shapes we cannot make these bells," he said. | "This is the hub of the product - without these templates and shapes we cannot make these bells," he said. |
Workers often spend their lunch break ringing the bells at the building. | Workers often spend their lunch break ringing the bells at the building. |
"This is a focus for bell ringing and bell manufacturing in the country. It is almost unique and it must stay, it simply must," Mr Semken said. | "This is a focus for bell ringing and bell manufacturing in the country. It is almost unique and it must stay, it simply must," Mr Semken said. |
Colin Howlett, who has worked at the foundry for 41 years, remembers his father working at the firm. | Colin Howlett, who has worked at the foundry for 41 years, remembers his father working at the firm. |
"With me being small I can just remember him coming home from the foundry and being black dirty because it's dirty work and the smell when they're casting - you could always smell when he was coming in." | "With me being small I can just remember him coming home from the foundry and being black dirty because it's dirty work and the smell when they're casting - you could always smell when he was coming in." |
Working museum | Working museum |
Colleague Bill Bowes said: "It really gets under your skin, there's no other job like it." | Colleague Bill Bowes said: "It really gets under your skin, there's no other job like it." |
Taylor's went into administration four years ago but was saved by a management team led by Mr Semken. | Taylor's went into administration four years ago but was saved by a management team led by Mr Semken. |
The company has made bells for customers all over the world, including as far away as Australia and New Zealand. | The company has made bells for customers all over the world, including as far away as Australia and New Zealand. |
There are plans for the building to become a working museum if it is rescued. | There are plans for the building to become a working museum if it is rescued. |
Apprentice Anthony Stone said: "It's a time capsule. It shows how England used to do things during the industrial revolution." | Apprentice Anthony Stone said: "It's a time capsule. It shows how England used to do things during the industrial revolution." |
Ben Robinson, from English Heritage, said: "Buildings are about people. People created them, people occupy them and this is an ongoing manufacturing concern - it is doing what it was designed to do." | Ben Robinson, from English Heritage, said: "Buildings are about people. People created them, people occupy them and this is an ongoing manufacturing concern - it is doing what it was designed to do." |
The foundry will be featured in BBC TV programme Restoring England's Heritage, which also features Cromford Mill, Derbyshire; Mapperley Chapel, Nottingham; Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire; All Saints Church, Beckingham, Lincolnshire; and the Church of St James the Greater in Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire. | The foundry will be featured in BBC TV programme Restoring England's Heritage, which also features Cromford Mill, Derbyshire; Mapperley Chapel, Nottingham; Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire; All Saints Church, Beckingham, Lincolnshire; and the Church of St James the Greater in Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire. |
It will be shown on BBC One at 19:30 GMT on Thursday 5 December. | It will be shown on BBC One at 19:30 GMT on Thursday 5 December. |
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