We must save the foundry that cast Big Ben

SIR – Jane Shilling (Comment, September 28) writes that “the fate of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry [where Big Ben, among many others, was cast] hangs in the balance”.

She tells us that an American venture capitalist intends to turn the country’s oldest manufacturing company (founded in 1570) into

“a boutique hotel”. We cannot allow this to happen.

Surely we can put a stop to this proposed vandalism by offering financial support in our thousands to those who wish to return the foundry to its proper use.

Des Baker

Bristol

Casting at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry for the ‘Ringing in the Millennium’ project