It has been announced that Big Ben is set to fall silent for four years starting Monday Aug. 21 it is so that essential renovation works can take place. The renovation includes work on the Parliament’s bell, tower and the clock. For many people around the world Big Ben is the symbol of London and it even featured in the Disney film peter pan.
The clock towers bell alone weighs an impressive 13.7-tons and has chimed every fifteen minutes largely interrupted for the last 157 years however this must come to and end for the next four years the House of Commons have announced so as to ensure the safety of workers on the restoration project.
The last time the clock was stopped was in 2007 for a very short maintenance period and it was temporarily muted for the former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s funeral in 2013.
The world famous clock wont bong again until 2021 and people around the UK are being urged to travel to London to experience the last bong of the tower that has been the beating heart of the House of Parliment since the mid 19th century. There is extensive work that needs to be carried out and unfortunately it cannot be done whilst keeping the clock in motion.
The Great Clock which has been nicknamed Big Ben by many is operated by a custom built Victorian clockwork mechanism which actually relies on gravity to trigger the renowned bongs. To enable the work to be done many parts of the clock will need to be stopped such as the bells. In order to stop these the striking hammers will be locked and the bell disconnected from the clock mechanism. This will allowing the Great Clock to continue telling the time silently so even though you will not be able to hear it the clocks heart will still be beating.
Watch and Big Ben enthusiasts need not be glum though as Parliament have announced that the specialist clock makers in charge of Big Ben will ensure that you can still hear the bong for important national events such as New Year’s Eve and Remembrance Sunday.
In fact many of you might not have even spotted that the conservation project already started. Earlier this year they started assembling scaffolding works so that they can traverse the outside of the 96 metres tall tower in safety. They need to build this quite far up the tower and as soon as the scaffolding reaches the necessary height approval will be granted to started. The work is st to begin from the top of the tower as the Ayrton Light (which shines to show that Parliament is sitting) is in desperate need of refurbishment as the cast iron roofing as seen better days.
The restoration team will then work their way down the building, removing scaffolding as they go, and tackling a wide range of the complex issues created by the height and heritage of this unique landmark. As part of this intricate series of works, the Great Clock itself will be dismantled piece by piece with each cog examined and restored. The four dials will be carefully cleaned, the glass repaired, the cast iron framework renewed, and the hands will be removed and refurbished.
Unfortunately the clock faces will need covering whilst the maintenance is undergone but this could cause some issues as many people around the UK use Big Ben to set their watches to the correct time. They have a plan, one working clock face is to remain visible at all times throughout the duration of the work and as the clocks internal mechanism is going to be out of action temporarily they are installing a modern electric motor to ensure that they are able to keep the great heart of London beating until the Great Clock is reinstated.
“Big Ben falling silent is a significant milestone in this crucial conservation project. As Keeper of the Great Clock I have the great honour of ensuring this beautiful piece of Victorian engineering is in top condition on a daily basis. This essential programme of works will safeguard the clock on a long term basis, as well as protecting and preserving its home – the Elizabeth Tower. Members of the public are welcome to mark this important moment by gathering in Parliament Square to hear Big Ben’s final bongs until they return in 2021.” – Keeper of the Great Clock Steve Jaggs
