Parliament has announced that urgent works need to be carried out on the UK’s most famous clock, Big Ben, and the tower that houses it, the Elizabeth Tower, to ensure that the clock continues to keep time and that degradation of the building does not occur.
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Work will begin on the tower in early 2017 and experts say in order to maintain the accuracy of the clock, the pendulum will be removed at some point within the three-year period so repairs can take place.
Due to the nature of repairs, the clock will have to be stopped, although officials have not said for how much of the three-year programme this will be necessary.
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A conservation team from Parliament has been analysing the original paint used to decorate the surrounds of each clock dial and the stonework around them will be repainted once a similar colour has been recreated.
The Big Ben nickname originally referred to the 13.5 tonne Great Bell within the Elizabeth Tower – but the term now commonly indicates the clock and tower as a whole. “During this period there will be no chimes”, a spokesperson for the House of Commons said.
“The project will enable us to give one of Britain’s most famous landmarks the TLC (tender loving care) it so desperately needs and deserves”. We are also investigating whether or not the chiming will have an effect on operatives working at high level, which will need to be taken into consideration. The bells will still chime for important events.
Scaffolding will be erected on the 96-metre high tower but at least one clockface will remain visible at all times.
A Parliament spokesman said: “While the tower itself is structurally sound and does not require works to improve its stability, other works are now a matter of urgency”. Leaks, erosion and “severe rusting” of the metalwork are also affecting the tower.
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‘The tower is not unstable, ‘ he said.
