Monday, 21 August 2017

Big Ben is silent


 
 At midday today Big Ben could be heard chiming 12 for the last time for four years! Essential maintenance on the bell tower and the clock began this afternoon and won't be finished for at least four years!



 Crowds gathered in Parliament Square to hear the last bongs of Big Ben.

 
 The pearly king and his family were there being interviewed.

 The media were there from around the world.










There has been an outcry that this has been allowed to happen. London without the sound of Big Ben is just not right.



 As the twelfth bong sounded a huge round of applause rose up from the crowd. Goodbye Big Ben or should I say 'au revoir' until 2021.



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32 comments:

  1. carol l mckenna21 August 2017 at 21:45

    Guess we all need ''maintenance' ~ (Even the earth ~ Sun eclipse today )
    ( even Big Ben )~ was impressive when I saw it ~ Great series of photos ~ thanks, ^_^

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  2. Penelope Notes21 August 2017 at 23:19

    Awww ... it will be sorely missed. Oh my gosh, four long years!!! I can't even imagine how wonderful I'd feel after four years of maintenance. :))

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  3. Carol @Comfort Spring Station22 August 2017 at 01:11

    I'd never thought about it but yes everything needs maintenance. I personally would be sad if I came to London and no Big Ben sound.

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  4. DJan22 August 2017 at 01:36

    So very sad! I am glad I don't have to hear that roaring silence that all who live around the clock will have to hear. :-(

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  5. Anonymous22 August 2017 at 02:32

    I really thought they may have come up with a last minute plan, perhaps allowing it to chime at weekends when no one is working on the tower. What will happen NYE???

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  6. Bettina Groh22 August 2017 at 02:34

    The NYE after we emigrated to the US my Mother woke me up to hear Big Ben chiming on the radio.... both of us homesick for London!

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  7. Unknown22 August 2017 at 04:10

    I personally would be sad if I came to London and no Big Ben sound.
    โกลเด้นสล็อต
    สูตรบาคาร่า
    gclub

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  8. Linda W.22 August 2017 at 05:57

    Wow, four years is a long time....Must be some heavy maintenance needed.

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  9. Lady Fi22 August 2017 at 07:32

    Four years is a long time! I read that they will play a recorded version of the bells during big celebrations/occasions.

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  10. Indrani22 August 2017 at 07:37

    Oh that is unexpected and sad.
    HAppy OWT!

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  11. NatureFootstep22 August 2017 at 09:25

    four years seem to be a very long time for repairs? Or??

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  12. biebkriebels22 August 2017 at 10:08

    That is a very long time for a repair, I bad everyone will miss the sound.

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  13. Mary K.22 August 2017 at 10:09

    Four years for maintenance? Big Ben must be pretty old to need so much time to be repaired.

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  14. Mara22 August 2017 at 10:54

    I think I saw it on the German news. I can understand why the workers do not want that loud bong going while they are working in close vicinity, but it is a shame. But imagine the joy when the sound will come back in four years' time!

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  15. Phil Slade22 August 2017 at 13:55

    I found it strange that so much attention was paid to event this while other things were going on around the world.

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  16. Minoru Saito22 August 2017 at 14:17

    Wow! Good Bye Big Ben. I went to London this May. I could hear the sounds.
    http://minorusaito.blogspot.jp/2017/05/a-sightseeing-in-london.html

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  17. Author R. Mac Wheeler22 August 2017 at 16:28

    au revoir

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  18. Rajesh22 August 2017 at 18:16

    Wonderful shots of the Big Ben.

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  19. Janey and Co.23 August 2017 at 00:49

    Just think how big the crowd will be to welcome him back!

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  20. Cynthia23 August 2017 at 01:04

    It seems like a long time, four years to spruce up the gears. Maybe I'll be there for the celebration when the chimes return. You never know!

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  21. Molly23 August 2017 at 01:17

    I can't believe so much time and attention was spent on this considering the other far more serious issues. I get that 4 years is a long time but it will be worth it my opinion to ensure that the tower remains in a good condition for future generations to enjoy. Having said all that, as a Londoner it will be super weird for it to be silent and will look forward to the day when it comes back

    Mollyx

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  22. Ruth23 August 2017 at 02:43

    I read about this but didn't know people actually gathered to hear the last chimes.

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  23. Gattina23 August 2017 at 10:19

    London without the bells of Big Ben will be strange for the first day probably and then we get used to it. Fortunately. It was certainly necessary. We had building per building hidden behind sheets because they had to do the gold painting, that didn't look very nice but now it's shining in full glory ! And Big Ben will ring his bells with new forces ! Four years seem to be long but time goes by so quickly !

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  24. Gattina23 August 2017 at 10:20

    The gold painting on the Grand'Place in Brussels !

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  25. Sallie (FullTime-Life)23 August 2017 at 21:56

    We saw mention of that in our paper and were sad but understood the need (we're all getting older). It was great fun to see what it was like to be there and say 'au revoir' (I like that -- it WILL be back!).... thank you for taking us along!!

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  26. diane b24 August 2017 at 09:04

    That is sad but obviously necessary. Do they have a substitute for the next 4 years?

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  27. Al27 August 2017 at 14:00

    A truly classic icon - I remember reading about it going silent.

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  28. Betsy Banks Adams28 August 2017 at 18:32

    I heard this.... Glad to see that there were so many people there to hear it chime the last time for about 4 years... Kinda sad --but maintenance has to be done on occasion....

    Praying for the flooding in Texas and at my son's home now... He's already gone through way too much this month... Prayers for Mark.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  29. eileeninmd29 August 2017 at 12:31

    Hello, 4 years is a long time for maintenance. It looks like a nice celebration there to hear the last rings. I thought I heard it may ring in the New Years?
    Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day!

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  30. Joe Todd29 August 2017 at 17:55

    We have a president I wish would be silent LOL

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  31. Wendy4 September 2017 at 09:42

    I think it's a shame that there has been so much hype about this but many people have no idea of the scale of the work involved and why the bells are being silenced. Restoration of heritage buildings is often a long and difficult process.

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  32. David M. Gascoigne,6 September 2017 at 02:17

    London without Big Ben - unthinkable!

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