London's Big Ben Clock Gets A Facelift
- 10 years ago
Recently, the hands of Big Ben were stopped at 12. The four faces of the clock, that are made up of 312 delicate pieces of glass, are being scrubbed off with soapy water.
The Big Ben clock tower in London is one of the most famous landmarks in the world.
But exposure to pollution in the city has made the white clock faces dirty.
Recently, the hands of Big Ben were stopped at 12. And the four faces of the clock, that are made up of 312 delicate pieces of glass, are being scrubbed off with soapy water.
Now officially called Elizabeth Tower, it is known by the nickname Big Ben, which is in reference to the bell inside of the tower.
Paul Robeson, chairman of the British Watch and Clock Makers’ Guild is quoted as saying: “The glass panels over the clock face are terribly thin and fragile, because originally the dials were lit by gas, which is very dim. This is why our window cleaners have to be extremely careful.”
Clocksmiths are also taking a look at the inner workings and gears of Big Ben during the cleaning.
Each face will take a full day to clean, and it will be a week before Big Ben is heard again in the city of London.
The Big Ben clock tower in London is one of the most famous landmarks in the world.
But exposure to pollution in the city has made the white clock faces dirty.
Recently, the hands of Big Ben were stopped at 12. And the four faces of the clock, that are made up of 312 delicate pieces of glass, are being scrubbed off with soapy water.
Now officially called Elizabeth Tower, it is known by the nickname Big Ben, which is in reference to the bell inside of the tower.
Paul Robeson, chairman of the British Watch and Clock Makers’ Guild is quoted as saying: “The glass panels over the clock face are terribly thin and fragile, because originally the dials were lit by gas, which is very dim. This is why our window cleaners have to be extremely careful.”
Clocksmiths are also taking a look at the inner workings and gears of Big Ben during the cleaning.
Each face will take a full day to clean, and it will be a week before Big Ben is heard again in the city of London.