Big Ben to be silent for four years
Discussion
Halmyre said:
The Daily Telegraph also asks why a compromise was not possible to keep the bell in action.
In its leader column, the paper says that the most famous emblem of the nation is being silenced at a crucial time as the UK negotiates the terms of its new identity.
It asks "if the ravens are also to be dispatched from the tower" a reference to the superstition that if the ravens leave the Tower of London the Crown - and Britain - will fall."
Yes, of course - a scheme to silence the bells has only been dreamed up since last June... In its leader column, the paper says that the most famous emblem of the nation is being silenced at a crucial time as the UK negotiates the terms of its new identity.
It asks "if the ravens are also to be dispatched from the tower" a reference to the superstition that if the ravens leave the Tower of London the Crown - and Britain - will fall."
Not that they weren't reporting that the work would be carried out this year in an article in December 2016.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/16/bigbenw...
the survey model to assess the state of the stonework has been done over the last couple of years.
hornetrider said:
What the f
k are they doing. Rebuilding it from the ground up?
I'm no campanologist but Jesus Christ. Four years! And 30m! That's thirty million pounds. It's easy to throw away figures like that in amongst overall govt expenditure and costlier projects but that is a lot of cash.
I am surprised that the guy responsible for placing the contract hasn't been on here asking for advicek are they doing. Rebuilding it from the ground up?I'm no campanologist but Jesus Christ. Four years! And 30m! That's thirty million pounds. It's easy to throw away figures like that in amongst overall govt expenditure and costlier projects but that is a lot of cash.
He should have asked whether it is reasonable for the builder to request 100k in advance
Honestly, who the f**k cares Big Ben won't chime for a few years.
Anyone who does care needs to get a life.
As for the Daily Fails attack on "Health and Safety"... I for one wouldn't volunteer to go work in a tower where a giant bell chimes every quarter of an hour; with extra chimes on the hour; no matter what ear protection you give me.
Anyone who does care needs to get a life.
As for the Daily Fails attack on "Health and Safety"... I for one wouldn't volunteer to go work in a tower where a giant bell chimes every quarter of an hour; with extra chimes on the hour; no matter what ear protection you give me.
If anyone is interested, here's a short article on H&S law around exposure to noise.
https://www.shponline.co.uk/right-stop-big-ben-wor...
https://www.shponline.co.uk/right-stop-big-ben-wor...
Ridgemont said:
The costs and duration appear to be related to the fact they thought it would be a great idea to add a lift. Which will only go half way up. When they've done previous refutes they shut for periods of 6 weeks.
I doubt it'd be possible to put a lift up to the clock mechanism room (the width is restricted), and certainly not to the bells themsleves.When I visited a few years ago there was a group of older gents there - one of them fainted at the area behind the clock faces, hit his head on falling and passed out (partly because it was pretty hot there, it's like a greenhouse). The guidance before visiting had many warnings about there being a lot of steps and people needing to be relatively fit though, and all of them were very tired. It gave the fire brigade's special rescue team a serious challenge later though! Took a couple of hours to get them down apparently.
thebraketester said:
I am rather surprised that they have not developed a system of speakers at the bottom of the tower to reproduce the sound of the bells.
Bill Fontana did an amazing sound sculpture that de constructued the sounds of the tower and Big Ben about 15 years ago. They could re introduce that and let people experience/move through it.esxste said:
Honestly, who the f**k cares Big Ben won't chime for a few years.
Anyone who does care needs to get a life.
I'm not going to stick my head in the oven over it but it will be missed. It's just part of the fabric of life and although I'm only in that neck of the woods every 2 weeks or so, there's something very nice about it. But the workers safety must come first of course.Anyone who does care needs to get a life.
hornetrider said:
What the fk are they doing. Rebuilding it from the ground up?
I'm no campanologist but Jesus Christ. Four years! And 30m! That's thirty million pounds. It's easy to throw away figures like that in amongst overall govt expenditure and costlier projects but that is a lot of cash.
This is what happens when you involve English Heritage and their architect mates and trades, and the backhanders that go on.k are they doing. Rebuilding it from the ground up?I'm no campanologist but Jesus Christ. Four years! And 30m! That's thirty million pounds. It's easy to throw away figures like that in amongst overall govt expenditure and costlier projects but that is a lot of cash.
They would convince all its rocket science, which wasn't about when it was built...
Megaflow said:
Anybody that thinks this refurbishment is a minor like of paint type deal, needs to see the size and scale of the temporary steel work that he's been constructed to enable the works.
I was about to post the same thing.Every time I walk past I am amazed at the work that has gone into it already.
esxste said:
As for the Daily Fails attack on "Health and Safety"... I for one wouldn't volunteer to go work in a tower where a giant bell chimes every quarter of an hour; with extra chimes on the hour; no matter what ear protection you give me.
The fact that they can easily knock health & safety so soon after the Grenfell tower burnt down purely because the health & safety rules in place were ignored is ridiculous. Short-term memory fail.
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