LONDON – Britain’s Great Ben bell on Parliament’s clock tower will ring at midnight on New Year’s Eve, marking the start of a year for the first time since its unveiling. new face from the scaffolding halfway through the restoration works.
The work has seen the 96-meter-tall Elizabeth Tower, one of Britain’s most photographed buildings, surrounded by scaffolding over the past two years, as the four dials of the clock were reworked, repainted and iron works and the intricate stone is cleaned and repaired.
In March, part of the scaffolding was removed, showing that the numbers and hands of the once black watch have been repainted blue, in line with what scientists say was its original color.
Since restoration work began in 2017, Big Ben has been largely silenced, only sounding for major events. Remembrance Day, November 11, became effective for the last time.
The bell will be tested several times before New Year’s Eve, Parliament said in a statement.
Restoration work is due to be completed in 2021 and will be followed by a £ 4bn ($ 5.2 billion) restoration program of the entire Parliament building.
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