Whitechapel Bell Foundry

Voice of the East End: The Cast-Bronze History of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry

Think about the most iconic sounds of history: the deep, resonant chime of London’s Big Ben, or the sharp, historic ring of America’s Liberty Bell. Now, imagine a single, humble workshop in London’s East End responsible for creating both of them.

Welcome to the story of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, a place that did not just witness history, but actively cast it in bronze.

Four Centuries of Heavy Metal

Before its doors closed, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry held a Guinness World Record as the oldest manufacturing company in Great Britain. While its famous home on Whitechapel Road was established in the eighteenth century, the foundry's origins trace all the way back to 1570, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Some historians even argue that its lineage stretches back to a 1420 workshop in Houndsditch known as the Lester & Pack Bell Foundry.

For nearly four and a half centuries, through the Great Fire of 1666, the Blitz of World War II, and the rise and fall of global empires, the foundry kept its furnaces burning. Early in its history, the workshop secured its legendary reputation by casting the historic bells for Westminster Abbey.

Walking with family: Embankment to Gabriel's Wharf... and beyond

Saturday June 13, 2026.

Partly cloudy with a high of 22°C (71.6°F).

Today marks the official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III, which involves the Trooping of the Colour parade, a 41-gun salute and a flypast by the Royal Air Force. It was the latter that my uncle Martin and I headed off to London to see.

Martin picked me up and we took the short drive to Croxley station, where we boarded a Metropolitan line train that would only take us to Harrow-on-the-Hill station, as engineering works had overrun.

Arriving at Harrow-on-the-Hill station, at 09;40, we made our way down the stairs from the platform and used the subway to reach Platform 2, where we would catch a National Rail Chiltern Flyer to Marylebone station. There was a wait of about 30 minutes, but at least we pretty much guaranteed a space on the train, unlike those waiting for the Metropolitan trains to start running again at around 10:30.

Sure enough we were soon aboard our train, speeding towards Marylebone station, where we disembarked and headed down to the Bakerloo line trains, which we took to Embankment station.

Leaving Embankment station we crossed Victoria Embankment and headed east, following the River Thames, until we reached Bazalgette Embankment. Here we explored one of London's newest public realms, which is built above one of the bore holes of the Tideway Tunnel. It was fairly empty with a few people sitting in some of the various seating areas, enjoying the morning sun, while a few skateboarders were practising their tricks a little further on. But it is always nice to get up close to the Lion heads that have always been out of reach.

City of London Police

The Thin Red Line: Why the City of London Has Its Own Police Force

When people think of policing in London, they almost always picture Scotland Yard and the Metropolitan Police. But if you step inside the famous "Square Mile", the historic financial heart of London, you are entering the jurisdiction of a completely different, fiercely independent force: The City of London Police.

Despite patrolling an area of just over one square mile, this tiny force has a massive history. From medieval night watches to the hunt for Jack the Ripper, this is how they came to be, and why they remain one of the most unique police forces in the world.

Keeping the Watch: The Origins

Before organised police forces existed, medieval London relied on the "Ward Watch." Created in the 1200s, this was a system of day constables and night watchmen who patrolled the city walls and gated entries.

"What is the oldest object that you can touch, on the streets of London?"

There are many ancient objects that you can see and touch in London, from the Needle of Thutmose III, mistakenly called 'Cleopatra's Needle', to the Cuneiform tablet in the St Vedast-alias-Foster Garden.

However, there is something far, far older, hidden in plain sight, that may surprise you.

If you visit the area of St Martin-in-the-Fields and head along Adelaide Street, towards Duncannon Street, you will discover a sculpture entitled 'A Conversation with Oscar Wilde'.

This sculpture was created by the artist Maggi Hambling, and was unveiled in 1998. Shaped like a coffin, it has a bust of Oscar Wilde, with a hand holding a cigarette, rising up out of the head end. At the foot end it is inscribed with the words, "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars", which is taken from his play 'Lady Windermere's Fan'.

The sculpture was deliberately designed to be an interactive bench, where people can sit and 'chat' with Oscar Wilde.

Many mistakenly think that the piece is made from granite, but they are wrong. It is actually made from metamorphic rock, which is formed in the crust of the Earth. The lines throughout the sculpture show that this compressed rock is over three billion years old.

London's City Farms

When many people think of London, they think of the historic buildings, the Roman walls, the skyscrapers of the City of London, the River Thames and the overcrowded tourist destinations. 

What many fail to appreciate is that 49% of London is green space, with that percentage set to rise as new buildings and developments are required to include green spaces within their plans.

There are other green spaces, within London, that make for the perfect escape for those with families, too. Many are set close to major population centres, or are sandwiched between railway lines, while a few are on the outskirts. I am talking about London's City Farms.

There are well over a dozen city farms, spread across London, all of varying sizes, offering the chance to get up close and personal with farm animals. 

Some have rare breeds, while others include rescue centres. Others specialise in reptiles and arachnids, or, due to a lack of space, keep smaller animals, like ferrets, guinea pigs and rabbits.

Together these working city farms, many of which are free to visit, offer educational activities, petting areas, horse riding, animal adoption and much more.

I have listed some of these city farms below, with the address, a link to the website and basic information.

Belmont Farm, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1QT: Belmont Farm

Animals: Cattle, goats, alpacas, rabbits, poultry, waterfowl, ponies, donkeys, pigs, sheep and more

Services: Farm, soft play, toilets, cafe

Opening times: Daily

Price: Varies depending on age (concessions available)