BIG BEN GETS A BATH!
People from all over the world come to London and visit Big Ben but one week this August, they would have seen an unusual sight!
Five highly-trained abseiling experts started cleaning all four clock faces on 18th August. It will be the clock’s first scrub for 4 years. Experts think it will take a week to complete the cleaning so long as the weather stays fine.
The Houses of Parliament clock (nicknamed Big Ben), which was built in 1859, will also be checked for damage to the dials. Each clock face is made up of 312 pieces of opal glass, which must be treated carefully. The hands of the clock were made in copper because it is lighter than other metals. To keep the climbing cleaners safe, the clock’s hands have been frozen in the midday position.
R - What material was chosen to make the hands of the clock and why?
I - What year was Big Ben last cleaned in?
C - Who would be interested in reading this article?