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A foundry is very specific type of factory where metal is melted and poured into a mold. When the hot metal cools it becomes solid and takes the shape of the mold.
Located in East London, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry is Britain's oldest manufacturing company according to The Guiness Book of World Records. It was established during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare's lifetime, and has been producing bells continously since 1570.
Modern technology has certainly helped the bell making process in some areas such as tuning and temperature control, but the process remains nearly the same as in Shakespeare's time.
The foundry has produced some of the world's most famous bells, including Big Ben and Philadelphia's Liberty Bell.
On July 26, 2002 the foundry cast a bell to commemorate the first anniversary of the September 11th attacks on New York City.
Copyright © ProjectExplorer 2003-2006
Text: Kristina DeSantis & Jenny M. Buccos
Photo: Sarah Sakaan