It was an ordinary day. Monday, July 4, 2022 and I just finished reading about legendary clock tower "Big Ben". Seems that it will be at least another 5 years before it will once again ring. It's been five years since the world famous clock tower, that is located in London, has been in hiding and has been silent.
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| Big Ben |
The clock tower was officially named in 2012 as Elizabeth Tower when it was renamed in honor of the queen's diamond jubilee. The nickname of the biggest bell in the belfry is Big Ben. Over the past five years the clock was dismantled and serviced for the first time since 1859. Over 3,500 parts were removed and refurbished in the 316-foot tower. The renovations on the clock are said to be about 97 million dollars. But it's the symbolism, the size of the great clock of Westminster, that gives it its importance. The clock is so important that during the renovations, the chime will sound once a year on Remembrance Day, to commemorate Britain's dead; and to usher in the New Year. Big Ben weighs a bit over 15 tons and has the most advanced technology available. The Elizabeth Tower is not the first clock tower to watch over Parliament. That one dates back to 1290, but was destroyed by a fire. In 1859, crowds lined the streets to greet Big Ben's arrival. The huge bell was pulled by 16 horses to Westminster where it took 18 hours to haul it 200 feet to get it to the belfry before it could ring for the first time. By 2017 Big Ben began to deteriorate and had water leaking into the belfry. The steps, ironwork, and guttering were all in need of repair. Much of the damage occurred in 1941 when Parliament was bombed during WWII. The restoration work is very time-consuming as can be expected. An elevator was installed as well as a restroom at the top for Big Ben's maintenance workers. Since there are 334 steps, the restroom was much appreciated by the workers. Big Ben did have constant maintenance, but the clock itself hadn't been serviced. The clock was dismantled and secreted away from London which is more than 280 miles, to the workshop of the Cumbia Clock Co. in northwestern England.  |
| Big Ben awaiting it's new works |
To help keep the work under wraps, the clock company removed all signs from its building to make it harder for uninvited guests to find it. After all the renovation work was done and the scaffolding came down, Big Ben looked as if it were new in the sunlight. It was hugely exciting to see it. There are a few moments that catch you off guard, and that was one of them. I'll bet that when Big Ben chimes once again this summer, Londoners will chime along with it. The restoration work will be done, and a sound familiar to Londoners for more that 1 1/2 centuries will again ring out across the British capital...Big Ben is back! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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