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Fig. 2. 
The earliest example of the Art of a York 
Bellfounder. 
The earliest example known of the art of the bellfounders of 
our city is in the Museum, it was the Mortar of the Infirmary 
of the Abbey of St. Mary, cast in 1308, by 
WILLIAM DE TOWTHORPE, 
who may have cast the ring of bells for the Abbey Church. 
The romantic history of the mortar (fig. 3) is given in the 
handbook to the Museum. It is a beautiful example of 
mediaeval art, the body being surrounded by two rows of 
quatrefoils, each containing a device, whilst a handle on either 
