How much did it cost to clean the Big Ben?

The damage was repaired at the time, but in major refurbishment from 2017 it was found that the tower had sustained greater damage than originally thought, and asbestos, lead paint and broken glass were discovered, increasing the refurbishment cost from an estimated £29m to nearly £80m.



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On 27 July 2012, Big Ben chimed 30 times, to mark the start of the Olympic games. And a final fact for you – the gold decorations at the top of the clock are real. It is genuine 23 carat gold as as fake gold would wear off more easily, so this is actually a cheaper alternative.

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The damage was repaired at the time, but in major refurbishment from 2017 it was found that the tower had sustained greater damage than originally thought, and asbestos, lead paint and broken glass were discovered, increasing the refurbishment cost from an estimated £29m to nearly £80m.

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Ben Roethlisberger signed a 2 year, $68,000,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including a $37,500,000 signing bonus, $37,500,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $34,000,000.

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Big Ben, the bell, measures 2.7m in diameter, 2.2m in height, and weighs 13.7 tonnes. The four quarter bells weigh between 1 and 4 tonnes each. The hammer which strikes Big Ben weighs 200kg. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PEOPLE, EVENTS AND PLACES IN PARLIAMENT...

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However, it is one of the most unusual aspects of the Elizabeth Tower. 114 steps up inside the tower is the Prison Room, but you don't need to worry about being locked up there yourself. The prison room was used for MPs who breached codes of conduct, but it hasn't been used since 1880.

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The London clock tower, Big Ben was rotated by a quarter, causing the hammer to strike a different place of the bell. Meanwhile, the hammer was lightened to prevent further damage. The bell has sounded at a slightly different pitch ever since, and the crack has never been repaired.

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What is Big Ben's formal name? The tower housing Big Ben was formally known as St. Stephen's Tower until 2012, when it was renamed Elizabeth Tower on the occasion of Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 years on the British throne.

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The last of the scaffolding being used on Sir Robert McAlpine's scheme to refurbish Big Ben was slotted into place last week at a cost of £3.5m.

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Big Ben chimes every hour, and smaller bells around it chime every 15 minutes to mark each quarter hour.

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At close proximity, the sound of Big Ben measures 118 decibels, which is loud enough to cause physical pain. To make the bell chime, the copper and tin bell is struck by a hammer weighing 200kg.

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