Administrators achieve going concern sale of historic bell foundry

225 year-old business - one of only two remaining bell foundries in the UK - will continue to trade

16 October 2009

Simon Chandler, partner at accountancy firm Mazars and joint administrator of Taylors Eayre & Smith, the world’s largest bell foundry, this afternoon announces the completion of a going concern sale of the business and its assets to UK Bell Foundries Limited for an undisclosed sum.

The sale preserves the jobs of the 11 remaining employees at the Loughborough-based foundry. The new owners will continue to trade and expand the customer base, protecting the inherent skills and value of the business, which has been in existence since 1784.

Simon Chandler comments: "We are absolutely delighted that such a specialist manufacturing business has been bought as a going concern - especially in the current climate - and that the tradition of bell founding in Loughborough can continue."

The business has been operating at its current site, the Taylor Bell Foundry, on Freehold Street in Loughborough, since 1840. The largest bell in Britain, the “Great Paul” of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, was cast at the foundry in 1881. It has also cast numerous bells for international customers including Washington Cathedral and Yale University in the USA, and the Canberra monument in Australia.

The famous premises have also lent themselves to the cinema, featuring in the upcoming Ricky Gervais film Cemetery Junction.

The company had experienced financial difficulties due to cash flow problems following a reduction in turnover and an increase in expenditure on the trading premises. It went into administration on 18 September 2009.

ENDS

Press contact:
Louisa Howells, Mazars
020 7063 4142 / 07919 548 736
Louisa.howells@mazars.co.uk


John Taylor & Co
Bellfounders
Loughborough

We are open for business!

The Loughborough FoundryWe are pleased to announce that as from Monday 19th October 2009 we shall recommence trading in our historic name from our premises in Freehold Street, Loughborough, Leics.

John Taylor & Co is committed to offering the highest standards of bell and iron founding and engineering excellence associated with the names Taylor and Loughborough around the world for 150 years.

We are delighted to have saved the Museum and important records at Loughborough which we intend to see placed in a Charitable Heritage Trust and developed as part of the national archive which is intended to be accessible to all.

A consortium of well known ringers, senior members of the bell industry and investors has been formed as UK Bellfoundries Ltd. and has been successful in its bid for the former operating entity at Loughborough. We are also delighted to announce that Mrs Merle Taylor has agreed to be President of the company.

We are looking forward to continuing working with the other members of the trade as well as individual churches.

We would like to thank all those who have given us their support in recent months – it has been greatly appreciated.

Andrew WR Wilby

On behalf of the Directors of
UK Bellfoundries Ltd
and
John Taylor & Co

The Bellfoundry
Freehold Street
Loughborough
Leics
LE11 1AR

Telephone: 01509 212241
Fax: 01509 263305
Web: www.taylorbells.co.uk
Email office@taylorbells.co.uk

Friday 16th October 2009

BB BellBoard
CC
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers