The Rudhall Family I

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries there was a steady demand for church and other bells. One of the leading foundries was run by the Gloucester family of Rudhall who, between 1684 and 1835 produced over 5,000 bells in the city. The foundry was started by Abraham Rudhall (1657-1736), a carpenter of Quaker parentage probably born in Upton St. Leonards. It is not known where he learnt the art of bell founding. The earliest known examples of his work are a peal of five bells at Oddington, dated 1684, though there are references to his tuning bells as early as 1680. Bells were usually inscribed, often with a phrase like "PROSPERITY TO THIS PARISH" together with the date, the founder's initials and a decorative border. Usually Rudhall's initials were separated by a little bell. The benefactor, local priest or churchwarden often had their names included in the inscription.