The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, creators of the world's largest harmonically-tuned bell for the Games in Britain’s capital, is due to shut in the coming months after five centuries of trading.

The £27 million ($33 million/€31 million) London 2012 Opening Ceremony started with a single chime of the giant 23-tonne Olympic Bell by British cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins. 

Launched by the East End Preservation Society, the petition is entitled "Save the Whitechapel Bell Foundry" and is aimed at Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Karen Bradley.

"We the undersigned wish to publicly register our very serious concern about the imminent loss of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry," a statement on Change.org reads.

"Bells have been made continuously in Whitechapel since the 1570s.

"The business has been on its present site since the mid-1740s.

"It is one of just two remaining bell foundries in Britain, and the foundry is reportedly the oldest manufacturing company in the UK.

"This is the foundry that made Big Ben in 1858, the world famous US Liberty Bell and many, many more.

“The foundry is set to close at the end of March, and its contents sold at auction.

"We are very concerned that we will lose not only specialised jobs and skills, but that this type of business and trade is part of the historic essence of our towns and cities.

"How is Britain allowing this national treasure to slip through our fingers?"

The petition has so far gained 625 supporters. 

Inscribed on the bell is a line from a speech by Caliban, a character from one of William Shakespeare's best-known plays, The Tempest, which was the inspiration for the Ceremony.

The inscription reads: "Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises".

The bell hung in the Olympic Stadium for the Ceremony before being moved to make way for the Olympic Cauldron and was stored in the Olympic Park.

The Olympic Park re-opened in July 2013 and in May 2016 the bell was returned and reinstalled on a supporting structure just outside the Olympic Stadium.