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The Whitechapel bell foundry was established in 1570 © qaphotos.com/Alamy After years of wrangling and debate, the UK government has approved a controversial plan to turn the centuries-old Whitechapel Bell foundry in east London into a boutique hotel development. In a report published yesterday, Robert Jenrick, the UK secretary of state for communities and housing, agreed that a US investor can build a hotel around the bell-making facility on the site which will include a modern foundry in some form. Established in 1570, the foundry is famous for casting celebrated bells including Big Ben and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. The move prompted angry responses from culture and heritage professionals. Andrew Wilson, a former curator at Tate, wrote on Twitter that this is “another example of the normalisation of money-grabbing philistinism that this government promotes… a hotel for foreign tourists is more important than a bit of living history.” Writing

Tower hamletsUnited kingdomCity ofUnited statesAndrew wilsonLiberty bellCharles saumarez smithAntony gormleyKathryn hughesRobert jenrickTristram huntWhitechapel bellClare woodVincent goldsteinBippy siegalGrayson perry