18th Century Crotal Bell

3D Model

18th century crotal bell, made at the Robert Wells Foundry in Aldbourne, Wiltshire. Robert Wells was born in 1725, and founded the Wells foundry in 1755. The foundry was in operation under Robert, and later his sons Robert and James, until 1825, when sadly the business went bankrupt. Smaller versions of this bell would have been worn by horses and oxen, but a bell of this size is more likely to have been mounted on a cart or wagon, and would have helped to warn other road users of its approach. As well as producing 30 different sizes of crotal bell, the Wells foundry also produced church bells; an example of which, cast in 1792, still hangs at the church of St. John the Baptist in Pewsey.