Peter de Weston's bell

The area outside London's City wall around Aldgate and Whitechapel was a centre for heavy industry, particularly foundries for the casting of bronze church bells, large bronze vessels and, later, cannon. This church bell, made in about 1340, is inscribed in Latin 'PETRVS: DE: VESTON: ME: FECIT' ('Peter de Weston made me'). Peter de Weston was one of London's leading bell-founders at this time. There are other bells bearing his name in churches at Kingsbury (Middlesex), Fairstead (Essex), Marlston (Berkshire), Tatternhoe (Buckinghamshire) and Ambrosden (Oxfordshire). Peter died in 1347, leaving property to his wife Matilda and the foundry to his son Thomas. Matilda and Thomas both died in 1349, probably of the Black Death, leaving no one to carry on the family business.