Britain's Big Ben falls silent for four years of renovation work
Scaffolding stands in front of the Queen Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
LONDON (Reuters) - The "Big Ben" bell in the British parliament's famous clock tower tolled for the last time on Monday before it ceased its regular bongs for four years while renovation work is carried out.
The bongs will sound for events such as New Year's Eve celebrations but the four-year length of the outage has caused consternation among British politicians. Prime Minister Theresa May has said the length of the absence "can't be right".
The hammers which have struck the 13.7 tonne bell every hour for most of the last 157 years will be locked and disconnected from the clock to ensure the safety of those working on the restoration in the tower, with the bell-ringing not returning to normal until 2021.
The 'Big Ben' bell chimes for the last time in four years ahead of restoration work on the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
Hundreds of people stood in silence along Westminster Bridge and Parliament Square to observe the final bongs, breaking into applause once the bells had ceased to ring.
Officially called the Elizabeth Tower, the 96-metre-tall clock tower that houses Big Ben is believed to be the most photographed building in the United Kingdom. Its lower sections are already covered in scaffolding.
The panel of lawmakers responsible for the maintenance of parliament's buildings has said it will review the arrangements following the backlash, but will still ensure worker safety is prioritized.
Scaffolding surrounds the base of the Queen Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
(Reporting by Alistair Smout and Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)
A pearly King stands in front of the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsPeople use their phones to film as the 'Big Ben' bell chimes for the last time in four years ahead of restoration work on the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsPeople film the Queen Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsThe Sun newspaper drive a model of the 'Big Ben' on the back of a truck equipped with loudspeakers around parliament square in London, Britain, August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsThe Sun newspaper drive a model of the 'Big Ben' on the back of a truck equipped with loudspeakers around parliament square in London, Britain, August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsA tourist bus passes the Queen Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsPeople use their phones to film as the 'Big Ben' bell chimes for the last time in four years ahead of restoration work on the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsPeople use their phones to film as the 'Big Ben' bell chimes for the last time in four years ahead of restoration work on the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsA statue of Boudica is seen near to the Queen Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsScaffolding surrounds the base of the Queen Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsWorkers stand on scaffolding in front of the Queen Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsPeople wave European Union flags in front of the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsA European Union flag flies in front of the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
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