The Ilfracombe Iron Ore Bells. Paul A.C. Richards

The Illfracombe bells book is about the original discovery of iron ore in Australia and the story of two iron ore bells made from that ore deposit at Beaconsfield, Tasmania in the 19th century as a means of testing the quality of the ore. A replica of the original bell was cast in Launceston in 2018 weighing 96kg and presented to the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage centre that year. The original bell weighed 100kgs and was exhibited in the London International Exhibition in 1872 and the Vienna Exhibition in 1873. A fascinating story of a bell never to return to Tasmania.