Big Ben, other British historic sites on borrowed time
Last summer, Big Ben’s bongs were off by a whole six seconds. The cast iron roof of the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the 13.5 tonne bell, is corroding. The iconic clock face is crumbling.
“The clock and the dial are suffering from water ingress,” clock-keeper Steve Jaggs explained to Global News, as he picked away at the inner clock-face. “Pieces are just flaking off.”
In short, Big Ben is on borrowed time and needs a break.
In January, the bell will be silenced for several months as crews carry out a $55-million repair job. It will take six months just to erect the scaffolding along the 96-metre tower.
Crews will then painstakingly replace 1,248 pieces of pot opal glass, which make up the four clock faces.
“The tower is structurally sound. We just need to do the maintenance work,” said Jaggs.
But, Big Ben’s clock “facelift” is just beginning. Engineers warn British taxpayers are facing billions of dollars in badly-needed repairs, as many of England’s famous historical landmarks are literally falling apart.
“They’re not getting any younger,” joked Nigel Barker, the planning and conservation director at Historic England.
Barker has the mind-boggling job of keeping tabs on 400,000 historic buildings and structures across England: from Roman ruins to medieval castles, and Canadian war cemeteries.
Around 200 historic structures are considered endangered and in need of emergency repair.
“That could be something as simple as a wall or a horse trough, through to barrows and monuments. So, there’s a big range,” Barker said.
The most famous — and controversial — repair project involves the British Houses of Parliament.
An independent consultant’s report found the 150-year-old Palace of Westminster could suffer “irreversible damage” without significant restoration work.
It’s infested with rats, contains asbestos and its foundations are in danger of sinking into the River Thames.
The repairs could cost more than $10 billion and take over 30 years to complete — unless British MPs agree to move-out temporarily, which would help to reduce the cost and duration.
Even Her Majesty may soon be on the move. Crews need to replace the plumbing and wiring in the 300-year-old Buckingham Palace.
READ MORE: Rare images of a young Queen Elizabeth released for 90th birthday celebration
That job is expected to cost $280 million and would require the Queen to relocate for up to a year — the first time the monarch has vacated the palace since it was designated an official residence in 1837.
“Because of their use, their history and ownership, these buildings tend to get more and more repairs that build up,” explained Barker. He believes passionately that the money is well-spent. “It’s what makes England great, it’s one of top reasons people come to London: to see our historic buildings.”
Where appropriate, the historic restorations include a modern twist. For example, the 112 light bulbs in London’s iconic clock tower will be replaced with energy-efficient LED lights that change colour for special occasions. The entire project will take three years to complete.
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