Work starts on Hope Bell which will mark pandemic’s impact on Charnwood communities

Published: Tue 16th July, 2024

Initial foundation work is underway on the installation of the Hope Bell in Loughborough which will mark the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on local communities.

The structure will be a tribute to the NHS and key workers and a reminder of how communities came together to support each other in challenging times. Located in Queen’s Park, it will also be a space for reflection to remember those lost in the pandemic.

The installation is part of the Lanes and Links project, led by Charnwood Borough Council, which aims to better connect the park and the town centre.

Bells are synonymous with Loughborough as it is home to the last major bellfoundry in the UK, John Taylor & Co, which is fittingly making the Hope Bell on behalf of the Council.

The project is being funded by Loughborough Town Deal which has secured £16.9 million from the Government’s Towns Fund. The Town Deal is backing 11 projects in total which will bring in over £40million of total investment.

The structure will not be installed until later this summer but some initial foundation work is underway.

Cllr Anne Gray, the Council’s lead member for open spaces, said: “The pandemic was a significant moment in history and had a devastating impact across the world.

“The Hope Bell will be a place where people can come to remember loved ones and the sacrifices people made to help others and keep them safe. It will also be a welcome addition to Queen’s Park, particularly as it is already home to Taylor’s bells in the Carillon Tower.”

Cllr Jennifer Tillotson, lead member for economic development, regeneration and town centres, said: “The Hope Bell not only marks an important event in our past, it also celebrates the town’s unique bell-making heritage in an eye-catching, visual and accessible way.

“It will be a lasting memorial, both to those who lost their lives and a recognition of the sacrifices many people made to help others during the pandemic.”

Martin Traynor OBE, Chair of Loughborough Town Deal, said: “I am delighted that work is now fully underway on yet another important project supported by the Town Deal."

“As part of our programme, we have already seen the creation of the Careers and Enterprise Hub, expansion of SportPark, significant improvements to the public realm in Loughborough, new stalls for the market, upgrading of the canal footpaths, and there is more investment on the way. The Town Deal board and its partners are fully committed to delivering over £40 million of investment for the town.”

The Hope Bell is a clock chime installation comprising four quarter chime bells and the main Hope Bell to sound the hours.

It will be 7.5 metres high, with the hour bell weighing over a ton. The bells will be supported by four steel pillars which are symbolic of people coming together to embrace in a hug, something people said during the consultation was much missed in the early days of the pandemic.

A band of gold-coloured aluminum will be wrapped around the top, encircling the bells, and giving a visual feeling of sound emanating from them.

A poem will be inscribed around the band of gold coloured aluminium.

The base will be made of Portland stone, a light-coloured high-quality stone which was also used for the construction of the nearby Carillon Tower.

Over the coming weeks the foundations for the main structure will be laid with the main structure due to be installed later in the summer, followed by the addition of the stone base in September or October.

Once installed, the Council is considering holding a dedication service.

More information about the Lanes and Links project including the Hope Bell is available at www.charnwood.gov.uk/lanesandlinks.

To find out more about the Loughborough Town Deal projects, visit: www.loughboroughtowndeal.co.uk.