Foundry site where Liberty Bell was made to close doors after 277 years

The foundry site in England where the Liberty Bell and London's Big Ben were made is going to close after 277 years, the Guardian reports.

The owners of the Whitechapel Foundry, considered London's oldest manufacturing business, have sold their building and plan to close the site in May but hope to sell the business so that it can resume operations at another location.

Real estate value have soared in the East London neighborhood where the foundry has operated since 1759. This business itself dates back to 1570, during the reign of Elizabeth I.

The foundry made what would become the Liberty Bell for the Pennsylvania Statehouse in 1752. It cracked when it was first rung and was twice recast in Philadelphia. The current crack dates from the first half of the 19th century.

The firm also made Big Ben in 1856, but it too cracked and was recast in 1858.