Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Mont Rochelle

Abstract

In the garden of the wine estate Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek hangs a well preserved bell in a horseshoe type construction. Apart from two thick moulding wires above the sound bow and two light ones on the lip, the only decoration on the bell is an emblem of the Barwell foundry from Birmingham. The emblem consists of a shield surrounded by wealthy palm leaves. On the shield figures a naked cross with the letters J and B surrounding the arms of the cross. This emblem is different from the more common one where the cross is replaced by a sword and the bottom J and B is reduced to a single B, pierced by the sword. James Barwell started the foundry in Birmingham in 1870 and ran the factory up to 1920. His sons Edward and Arthur H. joined in the factory from 1890 onwards until the foundry stopped in 1920. As is often the case, Barwell did not put dates on his bells.