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« on: Sunday 12 December 10 20:37 GMT (UK) »
Hi Rocala I am sure were are related. My family name is Oliver but my parents moved to surrey before I was born, I am now 46. My father knows the family history much better than I do. My brother lives in the US so I was interested that you had received previous feedback from someone in the states Commenting on the Coventy link it may have been him. As I understand it the family history is that there was an Oliver Bell foundry established in Coventry. For some reason they moved to London, Bethnal Green. I believe after a period of trying to make it work in London competing against the more established Mears & Stainbank in Whitechapel they folded the business with many of the foundry workers including the Olivers going to work at the White Chapel bell foundry of whom Ernest was the last of a long line of employees. One story that my father recounts is that it was an Oliver who cast Big Ben and when the bell was delivered it was paraded through the streets pulled by 6 White horses with he sat on the Bell all the way. My father told me today that there are bells from the Oliver bell foundry in St Clement Danes church in the Strand, something I am keen to follow up and possibly visit if possible. I would be most interested if you have documented the family history and look forward to further contact. Cheers Chris
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