Which foundry cast the Bicentennial Bell presented to Philadelphia in 1976?
Answer
Whitechapel Bell Foundry
The Whitechapel Bell Foundry cast the Bicentennial Bell presented to Philadelphia in 1976.
Queen Elizabeth II presented the bell on July 6, 1976, on behalf of the people of Britain. It was a replica of Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell and formed part of the United States Bicentennial observances.
The bell carried an inscription referring to the people of the United States of America and the date July 4, 1976, followed by the words “LET FREEDOM RING.” Its wording emphasized the commemorative and diplomatic character of the gift.
The choice of foundry created a direct material connection with the Liberty Bell: both bells were cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. This detail is sometimes missed because the Bicentennial Bell is a replica, not the original Liberty Bell.