Britain's Big Ben falls silent for four years of renovation work

 

The 'Big Ben' bell chimes for the last time in four years ahead of restoration work on the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

 

LONDON (Reuters) - The "Big Ben" bell in the British parliament's famous clock tower tolled for the last time on Monday before it ceased its regular bongs for four years while renovation work is carried out.

 

The bongs will sound for events such as New Year's Eve celebrations but the four-year length of the outage has caused consternation among British politicians. Prime Minister Theresa May has said the length of the absence "can't be right".

 

The hammers which have struck the 13.7 tonne bell every hour for most of the last 157 years will be locked and disconnected from the clock to ensure the safety of those working on the restoration in the tower, with the bell-ringing not returning to normal until 2021.

 

Hundreds of people stood in silence along Westminster Bridge and Parliament Square to observe the final bongs, breaking into applause once the bells had ceased to ring.

 

Officially called the Elizabeth Tower, the 96-metre-tall clock tower that houses Big Ben is believed to be the most photographed building in the United Kingdom. Its lower sections are already covered in scaffolding.

 

The panel of lawmakers responsible for the maintenance of parliament's buildings has said it will review the arrangements following the backlash, but will still ensure worker safety is prioritised.

 

(Reporting by Alistair Smout and Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-08-22

Ate the monkeys still present and o.k. at Gibraltar.....??

Remembering the prediction ....

And the ravens in the Tower of London. Bit unfortunate how this coincides with Brexit.

Edited August 22, 20178 yr by nausea
Grammar

1 hour ago, david555 said:

Are the monkeys still present and o.k. at Gibraltar.....??

Remembering the prediction ....

Repared a typo (Ate= must be Are..)

18 minutes ago, david555 said:

Repared a typo (Ate= must be Are..)

Repaired a typo.

Sorry.

???????

18 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Repaired a typo.

Sorry.

???????

Thanks.....

Typed with my smarthpone....

Edited August 22, 20178 yr by david555
smarthphone

19 minutes ago, david555 said:

Thanks.....

Typed with my smarthpone....

I often have the same problem with big fingets small keyboaed!!!!!

1 hour ago, overherebc said:

I often have the same problem with big fingets small keyboaed!!!!!

Also not a native English writer...only 3E.U. languages speaker + my own full

4 years? They must be working against the clock!

2 hours ago, Grouse said:

4 years? They must be working against the clock!

Well no one will be 'beating' the clock.

Signed

BF.