Whitechapel Bell Foundry, cast the Liberty Bell and Big Ben both of which cracked
In 1752 the foundry cast the Liberty Bell which was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges, Pennsylvania's original constitution. As a result of damage sustained during its stormy passage across the Atlantic, the bell cracked in 1846 when it was first rung to mark the birthday of George Washington. From 2003, the bell has been housed at the Liberty Bell Center near Independence Hall.[2]
The Liberty Bell
Big Ben which tolls the hour at the Palace of Westminster was cast in 1858 and rung for the first time on 31 May 1859. "Big Ben" weighs 13½ tons and is the largest bell ever cast at the foundry.[2] This bell also cracked because too heavy a hammer was initially used. The crack and the subsequent retuning gives Big Ben its distinctive present tone. A profile template of Big Ben surrounds the entrance door while Big Ben's original moulding gauge is retained near the foundry's furnaces.[3]
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