Bell mould
This is a fragment of clay mould used to cast a bell. It was discovered with thousands of other fragments during archaeological excavations on the site of the Birdall foundry on Cowick Street in St Thomas, Exeter. The foundry was run by the Birdall family in the 16th century and made cauldrons and skillets as well as bells.
To cast a bell, bell metal (a copper alloy) was poured into a two-part ceramic mould, a core and a mantle, which left a gap for the molten metal to flow into. Bell moulds had to be precisely shaped so that the bell would produce the right sound. 19 bells have been identified as being produced at the Birdall foundry.
To cast a bell, bell metal (a copper alloy) was poured into a two-part ceramic mould, a core and a mantle, which left a gap for the molten metal to flow into. Bell moulds had to be precisely shaped so that the bell would produce the right sound. 19 bells have been identified as being produced at the Birdall foundry.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 41/2005/3/1
- Category
- Antiquities
- Collection Class
- Exeter archaeology
- Collection Area Region
- Northern Europe
- Collector Excavator
- Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit
- Material
- ceramic | | | |
- Common Name
- bell mould
- Simple Name
- casting waste
- Period Classification
- Post Medieval (1500-1750)
- Production Town
- Exeter
- Production County
- Devon
- Production Country
- United Kingdom: England
- Production Person Initials
- John
- Production Person Surname
- Birdall
- Production Year Low
- 1525
- Production Year High
- 1625
