Tourists visiting London will be deprived of the pleasure of hearing the famous Big Ben chime in the Houses of Parliament's clock tower for several years. Big Ben will ring its final bell before major renovations begin at noon on August 21.
The Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, is already partially covered in scaffolding, Interfax reports, citing British media. The conservation program for the tower's clock mechanism is aimed at preserving it and protecting it from deterioration, allowing the clock to continue to run long after the work is completed. The 13.7-ton bell will also be silenced to ensure the safety of the restoration workers.
Authorities promise that during the four-year restoration work, Big Ben will still occasionally ring on important occasions.
The bell has rung every 15 minutes for the past 157 years. It last fell silent briefly in 2013 during the funeral of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Source: travel.ru