The clock face of the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the famous Big Ben bell, is cleaned every couple of years.
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On the morning of Her Majesty's funeral, the chimes of Big Ben will fill the air at 9am. The sound will be different to usual and will be muffled due to a piece of leather covering the hammer that hits the bell.
1716: The bell from the clock tower is recast and later hung in the South West Tower of St Paul's Cathedral. If Big Ben is ever unable to strike, the bell in St Paul's is heard instead.
Big Ben RenovationWith the restoration set to wrap up in 2021, this refurbishment will repair the façade and restore the clock hands and details to their original blue color. Heavy London smog in the early 1900s turned the clock details black, and in the 1980s it was painted black to avoid the discoloring effect.
On 10 May 1941, a German bombing raid damaged two of the clock's dials and sections of the tower's stepped roof and destroyed the House of Commons chamber.
A symbol of democracy and a central part of what makes Britons feel British, Big Ben has become synonymous with both London, the United Kingdom and 'the Mother of Parliaments. ' And it not only holds a special place in the people of Britain's hearts, but in the hearts of MPs as well.
The UK parliament said restoration of the tower is in its final stages and could be finished in October with the return of Big Ben's infamous sounds around the same time period. Tours of Elizabeth Tower are expected to reopen to visitors in spring 2023.
The Elizabeth Tower is the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster in London, England. It contains the Great Clock, a striking clock with five bells. The tower is nicknamed Big Ben, a name which was originally applied only to the largest bell of the clock.