The iconic Big Ben clock tower in London, England, was showing 11 PM (Greenwich Mean Time, GMT) on the 31st of last month, marking the expiration time of the Brexit transition period. [Image source=Yonhap News]
After next summer, visitors to London, UK, are expected to be able to hear the chimes of Big Ben, the clock tower with a 161-year history.
On the 27th (local time), according to dpa news agency and Sky News, the UK Parliament announced in a statement that the restoration work on Big Ben will be completed in the second quarter of next year.
The Parliament explained, "After years of meticulous restoration, Big Ben will regain the dazzling color scheme from the Victorian era (1837?1901)," adding, "Over the next 12 months, scaffolding will be dismantled and the clock will be reinstalled."
Since restoration began in August 2017, Big Ben has only chimed on rare occasions such as Armistice Day (November 11).
The last time Big Ben chimed was on December 31 of last year, to commemorate Brexit, the UK's departure from the European Union (EU), and to welcome the New Year.
Damage caused by German bombing during World War II in 1941 and asbestos damage, which was found to be more extensive than expected, prolonged the repair period. As a result, the estimated restoration cost increased from ?61.1 million (approximately 94.5 billion KRW) to ?79.7 million (approximately 123.3 billion KRW).
Big Ben refers not only to the 13.7-ton bell (Great Bell) in the clock tower (Elizabeth Tower) of the Palace of Westminster, which serves as the Parliament building, but also to the 12-ton clock and the clock tower itself. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
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