The Bilbie family were bell founders and clockmakers based initially in Chew Stoke, Somerset and later at Cullompton, Devon in south-west England from the late 17th century to the early 19th century. Their importance to the local economy and in local history is commemorated by Bilbie Road in Chew Stoke and in the village sign. Bell making The Bilbie family produced more than 1,350 bells, which are hung in churches all over the West Country. The oldest bell, cast in 1698, is still giving good service in St Andrew's Church, Chew Stoke. Supplies of the tin and copper used to make bell metal were probably obtained from brass foundries in Kelston and Bristol. The metal was melted in a wood-burning furnace to over and then poured into a mould made from loam, or foundry mud, from the River Chew. Legend suggests the Bilbies were wild-looking men with long hair who could scarcely read or write, who would never cast a bell except when it was a full moon, midnight, and conditions were perfectly still. An unlikely story suggests that the reason Chew Stoke has criss-cross roads is because a sort of bypass was constructed, so that silence needed for making bells (?) would not be disturbed by travellers on horseback or by carriages passing the foundry. Church bells Church bells the Bilbies produced include: St Nicholas's Church, Abbotsbury Church of St John, Axbridge St Michael and All Angels, Bampton St Andrew's, Banwell St George's, Beckington St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol St Andrew's Church, Chew Stoke St John the Baptist's Church, Keynsham All Saints' Church, Corston St Andrew's, Cullompton St John the Baptist Parish Church, Glastonbury St Giles' Church, Leigh-on-Mendip Church of St John the Baptist, Lustleigh Parish Church of Marwood, North Devon St Margaret's, Northam, Devon Sherborne Abbey Old Church, Uphill, Somerset All Saints' Church, Wraxall All Saints' Church, Wrington St John the Baptist's Church, Yeovil Church of St Peter, Zeal Monachorum Clock making Edward Bilbie is thought to have learnt the clockmaking trade from Edward Webb, who died in 1694. Bilbie started casting bells in 1698, and it is highly probable that he was making clocks by this time. Around this time Bristol was one of the most important centres for clock making outside London. This was in part due to the strong brass founding industry which had developed in response to a healthy export demand and the abundant supply