By MOOK Scenic Spots Wu Pin-xuan, compiled and reported
The UK House of Commons has announced that the famous London landmark Big Ben will be mostly silent for the next four years due to renovations, with the hourly chimes ceasing from noon on the 21st of this month. The 13.7-tonne Big Ben has been chiming for 157 years. Its hammer is about to be dismantled, but the bell will still ring on important occasions such as New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Currently, half of the 96-meter-tall clock tower is surrounded by scaffolding. (Photo / Reuters)
The Big Ben clock will be disassembled, with each gear inspected and repaired. The four clock faces will also be cleaned and restored, the cast iron frame refurbished, and the hands removed for repair. One clock face will continue to operate and keep time quietly, powered temporarily by a modern electric motor until the original winding mechanism is restored.
Although the iconic chime will be temporarily absent, the bell will still ring on important occasions such as New Year’s Eve. (Photo / Reuters)
Since its first chime in 1859, Big Ben has stopped several times, but the upcoming maintenance will mark its longest period of silence.
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