Big Ben's "bongs" will ring out for the last time on Saturday morning before they fall silent for a month.

Maintenance work will mean the hourly chimes and quarter bells will cease to ring from 0800 BST until September.

The clock itself will stop for a few hours as an alternative system is installed to keep it working while the work to the bells is carried out.

The maintenance is the second and final phase of a programme of works prior to the clock's 150th anniversary in 2009.

The work will include the replacement of the bearings on the strike train which operates the hour bell and the going train which controls the clock itself.

At 0900 BST on Saturday, a team of specialist "industrial rope access technicians" will abseil down the south clock face, to start a day of cleaning and repair of the clock faces.

This work takes place every five years.

So the bongs will resume after a month's time?  I didn't even know Big Ben bonged

When I first read the title of this thread, I thought, "Oh no!" But seeing that it is just maintenance and Big Ben will resume his "bong hits"  ;) :D ;D ;D  then it is ok.




Cat

Local residents should now be able to sleep at night.

When I first read the title of this thread, I thought, "Oh no!" But seeing that it is just maintenance and Big Ben will resume his "bong hits"  ;) :D ;D ;D  then it is ok.




Cat


;D

Maybe all that fog you see in London is actually smoke from Big Ben's bong :D

Good to know this only temporary, as I was thinking how glad I am that I have heard the bongs in person if they were to be silenced forever...

And I thought after reading the headline that maybe a protest group of people who live nearby had won a battle to stop the noise.  ::)

Glad it's only temp.

Even Big Ben needs a tune-up at times.  Thankfully it's only temp.  London wouldn't be the same without it.

The world famous Big Ben has chimed again after a seven week silence was imposed due to maintenance work.

The world famous Big Ben has chimed again after a seven week silence was imposed due to maintenance work.


Have you heard it yet Phillip?  Does it sound like it's improved?

Have you heard it yet Phillip?  Does it sound like it's improved?
Not yet, but I will be near by on Wednesday.

The world famous Big Ben has chimed again after a seven week silence was imposed due to maintenance work.


appropriate in my mind... today marks the 40th anniversary of "The Prisoner". There's an episode called "The Chimes of Big Ben" which revolves around those chimes.

appropriate in my mind... today marks the 40th anniversary of "The Prisoner". There's an episode called "The Chimes of Big Ben" which revolves around those chimes.
Now that is a programme I never really watch, I have only seen extracts.

Now that is a programme I never really watch, I have only seen extracts.


I recommend renting the first episode "Fall Out", if only to better understand the Simpsons episode where they parody it

it's not as much of a commitment as say, flying to San Francisco to better understand an Animals song

If my friend Ben had to go withou HIS bong for a month...
:o

Yesterday I was on the Southbank close to County Hall, which across the River Thames from the Houses of Parliament and the Clock Tower for Big Ben, and at 5pm the heard the chimes and sound of Big Ben striking.

Yesterday I was on the Southbank close to County Hall, which across the River Thames from the Houses of Parliament and the Clock Tower for Big Ben, and at 5pm the heard the chimes and sound of Big Ben striking.
The picture I took across the river yesterday at 4:50pm, ten minutes before I heard the chimes.

Yesterday I was on the Southbank close to County Hall, which across the River Thames from the Houses of Parliament and the Clock Tower for Big Ben, and at 5pm the heard the chimes and sound of Big Ben striking.


Must have been good to hear Big Ben again. :)

Must have been good to hear Big Ben again. :)
It sounded pleasing knowing that it is up and running again.