Image ID: 41808

The Ten Bell, from Beeston Silk Mill

Courtesy of Reg Baker

Stoney Street
Beeston
Nottinghamshire
England

The plaque in front of the bell reads 'The bell was cast in 1841 by Taylors Foundry of Loughborough and was installed in the Beeston Silk Mill to call children to school at 10 minutes to 9.0 am and again at 10 minutes to 2.0 pm (hence its name). It was taken down by 1902 and transferred to the Swiss Mills who wove cotton until 1945 and it was given to the Broxtowe Borough Council just before the mill burnt down in 1984.' This is located by the pedestrian route to Sainsbury's supermarket on Stoney Street. It was cast in 1841 at Taylor's Foundry of Loughborough for William Lowe. He had originally erected a silkmill in 1826 as a companion to one in Derby. It dealt mainly with silk throwering. By the time it was burnt down by Reform Bill rioters in 1831 it was employing about 200 people. The bell was commissioned for the new mill. At this time William Lowe bequeathed the rebuilt mill to Francis Gill, who later took John Watson into partnership. By 1851 the rebuilt mill had about 580 employees. Gill founded a school for girls in the mill with Miss Cowell as its teacher. The bell was on the factory roof and called workers and students alike. It call children to school 10 minutes to 9:0 am and again at 10 minutes to 2:0 pm (hence its name). It was also a fire alarm. John Pollard bought the Silk Mill after it closed in 1902, and the bell was incorporated into the Swiss Mills, (which wove cotton until 1945). It was given to Broxtowe Borough Council in 1984. The mill building was used for various purposes before its partial demolition in 1992. On the bell is inscribed 'OXFORD and LOUGHBOROUGH 1841 JOHN TAYLOR BELL FOUNDER'. The bell is made of bronze, 99cm in height; width est. at 77cm.

Date: Feb-87

Organisation Reference: NCCS001544

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