Watrobski said represented “the light of freedom and democracy.” Big Ben, he added, had come to symbolize “the sound of freedom and hope,” particularly during World War II. Indeed, when Parliament is in session, there is a special illumination above the dials, which Mr. “But it’s the symbolism, the size of the great clock of Westminster, that gives it its importance.” “At the end of the day, you could say it is just a series of concentric stone shafts with a bloody great clock on top,” said Adam Watrobski, the chief architect of the tower’s restoration. Each clock face is made of 324 pieces of pot opal glass, which were produced in Germany. More than 3,500 parts were removed from the 316-foot tower, including much of its iron roof. But it is the nickname of the biggest bell in the belfry that draws the most name recognition, and it is replicas of this landmark that make up a substantial chunk of souvenir sales.ĭuring the past five years, the clock, which has four dials, was dismantled and serviced for the first time since it started ticking in 1859. The tower stands tall over the Palace of Westminster, which houses the British Parliament and is one of the world’s most instantly recognized constructions. The restoration work is done, and this summer, a sound familiar to Londoners for more than a century and a half will again ring out across the British capital. The Elizabeth Tower, called the Clock Tower until it was renamed in 2012, was refurbished at a cost of about $97 million. The tower that houses the enormous bell has been undergoing renovation since 2017. London’s Big Ben, one of the world’s landmarks, looks set to chime again.

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