Oudtshoorn North, Dutch Reformed Church

Abstract

The foundation stone of the church informs us that the building of the church was started on 17 September 1960, some ten years after the foundation of the congregation in 1951. The bell does not carry any decorations. On a side one notices remnants of black paint, probably intended for the transportation of the bell. From what can be reconstructed, we expect the text to be: OUDTSHOORN, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA. While the name of the founder is not mentioned on the bell, we are convinced that the bell has been cast by the German firm Weule. This firm was started in 1836 in Bockenem am Harz by J.F. Weule (1811-1897) as a clock factory. His son Friedrich (1855-1952) added bell casting from 1880 onwards. The firm was closed in 1966. Up to now we have encountered more than two dozen bells from this company in the Western Cape. There appears 11504 as production number from the foundry. From comparison with other bells from the same company we expect that the ball has been cast in 1960 or 1961.