Queen visits East End to see bells cast and umbrellas being made
THE Queen toured factories in London’s East End today. Her tour with Prince Philip included the famous Whitechapel bell foundry and the umbrella factory that holds the Royal warrant
THE Queen toured factories in London’s East End today (Wednesday).
Her tour with Prince Philip included the famous Whitechapel bell foundry and the umbrella factory that holds the Royal warrant.
The excursion east of the City began at the Britvic soft drinks bottling plant and distribution depot at Beckton to see the various stages of the manufacturing process and to meet the workforce.
The next stop on the tour was Fulton Umbrellas, a family-run firm in Preston's Road, Blackwall, on the Thames waterfront, which has been making umbrellas for 50 years.
You may also want to watch:
They toured the warehouse, textile print-shop and umbrella assembly workshop of the company founded by Arnold Fulton in 1959.
ROYAL WARRANT
Most Read
- 1 The Queen lends her name to Royal London’s emergency Covid wards
- 2 Police hunt after stabbing in Cable Street: One man hurt
- 3 Death of woman, 75, in Mile End fire could have been avoided
- 4 No injuries but 20 rescued as firefighters tackle Limehouse blaze
- 5 Police raid cannabis factory near Liverpool Street station: 2 arrests
- 6 Airbnb house party violence leaves police officer with broken finger
- 7 Doctors urge Tower Hamlets mayor to end support for Silvertown Tunnel
- 8 Teenager found dead in Victoria Park
- 9 Driver arrested after police 'drugs patrol' stops car in Whitechapel
- 10 Tribute to 7th Barts Health Trust worker to die of Covid-19
Both companies hold the Royal warrant from the Queen for supplying their products to Buckingham Palace.
The final stage of the East London tour this evening was the historic Whitechapel bell foundry which has been in the Whitechapel Road more than four centuries.
Workers at the foundry demonstrated bell tuning, sand crafting and making leather handles for hand bells.
And of course, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh signed the visitors’ book.