Image copyright Reuters

Big Ben's famous chimes will fall silent from next week until 2021 to allow essential repair works to take place.

The bongs will sound for the final time at midday on Monday before being disconnected to allow the clock and surrounding tower to be restored.

The Great Bell has sounded on the hour for 157 years.

It last fell silent in 2007 and before that, for major refurbishments between 1983 and 1985.

Parliamentary authorities said stopping Big Ben - the commonly used name for the Palace of Westminster's Elizabeth Tower - would protect workers carrying out the repairs.

It will still sound for important events including New Year's Eve and Remembrance Sunday.

The clock's keeper, Steve Jaggs, said Big Ben falling silent was a "significant milestone" in the project to restore the tower.

"This essential programme of works will safeguard the clock on a long term basis, as well as protecting and preserving its home - the Elizabeth Tower," he added.

Big Ben basics

Image copyright PA

The Great Bell forms part of the Great Clock in the Elizabeth Tower - commonly known as Big Ben

It weighs 13.7 tonnes and the Elizabeth Tower stands 96m (315ft) tall

Every hour it strikes an E note, and every 15 minutes four "quarter bells" chime

To stop the chimes, the striking hammers will be locked until 2021

The landmark Elizabeth Tower is said to be the most photographed building in the UK.

Scaffolding is up and repair work has already started.

The project's principal architect Adam Watrobski told the BBC the works would install new amenities in the tower, including a lift, toilet and kitchen.

Essential maintenance will also be carried out and the building will be made more energy efficient.

As well as conservation work to the tower, the Great Clock will be dismantled piece-by-piece and its four dials will be cleaned and repaired.

The Ayrton Light, which shines when Parliament is sitting, will also be renovated.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Parliament's Elizabeth Tower landmark and the famous clock are showing signs of wear and tear

During the repair work, an electric motor will drive the clock hands until the main mechanism has been restored, so it will continue to tell the time.

However, the faces will need to be temporarily covered while the clock is undergoing maintenance.

The wider Parliamentary estate is also in need of repair, and a multi billion-pound programme involving MPs temporarily relocating has been put forward.

Meanwhile BBC Radio 4, which broadcasts the chimes of Big Ben live, has announced it will broadcast a recording when the bells fall silent.

Head of station management Denis Nowlan told the Today programme that various alternatives were considered, including the bells of Nottingham Council House.

"We came very close to using the sound of Nottingham's bells," he said.

However, a spokesperson confirmed: "After considering various options, we've decided that pre-recording Big Ben's chimes offers the most reliable and resilient option whilst the Palace of Westminster carries out its repairs."</s>(CNN) — Big Ben will fall silent next week for four years as “major conservation works” are carried out on the tower which houses the bell, UK Parliament announced Monday.

The chimes emanating from the bell, one of London’s most famous attractions, have kept time in the British capital for 157 years.

At noon on Monday, August 21, Big Ben will sound for the last time until 2021.

The repairs are estimated to cost around £29 million, or more than $42 million.

“Big Ben falling silent is a significant milestone in this crucial conservation project. This essential programme of works will safeguard the clock on a long term basis, as well as protecting and preserving its home,” Keeper of the Great Clock, Steve Jaggs, said in a statement.

Big Ben is the name of the bell inside the tower (St. Stephen’s Tower, renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012), and not the building or the clock (simply known as the Great Clock) itself.

The chimes were last silent in 2007 during maintenance, and before that from 1983-1985 during a period of refurbishment.

Londoners needn’t worry though; Big Ben will continue to chime for “important national events” such as New Year’s Eve and Remembrance Sunday.</s>The chimes of one of the world's most famous clock towers of the 19th century, the Big Ben in London, will fall silent for essential repairs for four years from next week.

The regular bongs of the Elizabeth Tower, as it is officially known, will sound for the final time at midday next Monday before being disconnected to allow the clock and surrounding tower to be restored.

The Great Bell has sounded on the hour for 157 years. It last fell silent in 2007 and before that, for major refurbishments between 1983 and 1985.

Parliamentary authorities said stopping Big Ben - the commonly used name for the Palace of Westminster's Elizabeth Tower - would protect workers carrying out the repairs.

However, it will still sound for important events including New Year's Eve and Remembrance yesterday.

"This essential programme of works will safeguard the clock on a long term basis, as well as protecting and preserving its home - the Elizabeth Tower," said Steve Jaggs, the clock's keeper.

The Big Ben, part of the Palace of Westminster Parliament complex in central London, traditionally strikes an E note every hour, and every 15 minutes four "quarter bells" chime.

To stop the chimes, the striking hammers of the bell will be locked until 2021. It weighs 13.7 tonnes.

Elizabeth Tower is said to be the most photographed building in the UK.

The project's principal architect Adam Watrobski told the BBC the works would install new amenities in the tower, including a lift, toilet and kitchen.

The essential maintenance will also include making the structure more energy efficient.</s>Britain’s Big Ben to fall silent for four years

Tourists walk past Big Ben in Westminster, London June 10, 2017. The Elizabeth Tower, which is 96 metres (315 feet) high, is the most photographed building in Britain. ― Reuters picLONDON, Aug 14 — Britain's much-loved Big Ben will fall silent for four years from next week as conservation work is carried out on the famous 19th century bell in a clock tower next to the Houses of Parliament.

“Big Ben falling silent is a significant milestone in this crucial conservation project,” Steve Jaggs, whose official title is “Keeper of the Great Clock”, said in a parliament statement yesterday.

“This essential programme of works will safeguard the clock on a long term basis, as well as protecting and preserving its home — the Elizabeth Tower,” he said.

It will be the longest period that Big Ben, whose bongs are familiar to many people around the world because of their use in BBC radio and television broadcasts, has been silent in its 157-year history.

The Great Bell, popularly called Big Ben, weighs 13.7 tonnes and strikes every hour to the note of E. Four smaller bells also chime every 15 minutes.

The last bong before the refurbishment will be at 12pm (1900 in Malaysia) on August 21, the statement said.

The clock will still tell the time silently until 2021 and the chimes will continue to be rung on important occasions such as New Year's Eve.

The Elizabeth Tower, which is 96 metres (315 feet) high, is the most photographed building in Britain.

The tower itself is commonly referred to as Big Ben even though the name applies only to the bell.

The clock's cogs and hands as well as the four dials will be removed, cleaned up and repaired as part of the work.

The project's cost was estimated last year at £29 million (RM161.5 million).

Because the clock mechanism will be temporarily out of action, a modern electric motor will drive the clock hands until the clock is reinstated.

Parliament also said that the clock's faces would have to be covered up while they are being repaired.

“However, to ensure that the public are still able to set their watches by this most important of time pieces, one working clock face will remain visible at all times throughout the works,” it said. — AFP</s>LONDON (AP) – Big Ben will fall silent next week in London as a major restoration project gets underway.

The bongs of the iconic bell will be stopped on August 21 to protect workers during a 4 year $38 million conservation project that includes repair of the Queen Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben and its clock.

Steve Jaggs, keeper of the Great Clock, said Monday that the mechanism will be dismantled piece by piece and its four dials will be cleaned and repaired.

Big Ben has been stopped several times since it first sounded in 1859, but the current restoration project will mark the longest period of silence for the bell. It will still sound on big occasions, such as Remembrance Sunday.

It will still sound on big occasions, such as Remembrance Sunday.

More stories you may like on 7News</s>London's iconic Big Ben , the bell inside a clock tower by the Houses of Parliament , will fall silent next Monday for the next four years, due to conservation work.

The Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and Big Ben (also known as the Great Bell), is currently undergoing renovation work. As this work takes place, the regular bongs of Big Ben will be paused at noon (GMT) Aug. 21 until 2021, according to a parliament statemen t.

"Big Ben falling silent is a significant milestone in this crucial conservation project," Steve Jaggs, whose official title is Keeper of the Great Clock, said in the statement. "This essential program of works will safeguard the clock on a long-term basis, as well as protecting and preserving its home – the Elizabeth Tower," he said.

Big Ben weighs 13.7 tons and strikes to the note of E. every hour. Smaller bells chime every 15 minutes— those bells will also stop ringing. Parliament's clock makers will ensure that Big Ben will bong during important national events, like New Year's Eve.

The last time Big Ben fell silent for maintenance was in 2007, but this will be the longest period that the Great Bell will have its bongs paused in 157 years.</s>LONDON (AP) – Big Ben will fall silent next week in London as a major restoration project gets underway.

The bongs of the iconic bell will be stopped on August 21 to protect workers during a 4 year $38 million conservation project that includes repair of the Queen Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben and its clock.

Steve Jaggs, keeper of the Great Clock, said Monday that the mechanism will be dismantled piece by piece and its four dials will be cleaned and repaired.

Big Ben has been stopped several times since it first sounded in 1859, but the current restoration project will mark the longest period of silence for the bell. It will still sound on big occasions, such as Remembrance Sunday.

It will still sound on big occasions, such as Remembrance Sunday.
• PHOTOS: Back to school kicks off for Pasco, Sarasota and Hernando Counties
• Officer: ‘Tell my family I love them’ after shooting caught on glasses camera</s>The Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, is seen above the Houses of Parliament, in central London, Britain August 14, 2017.

LONDON (Reuters) - The "Big Ben" bell in the British parliament's famous clock tower will cease its regular bongs at noon on Aug. 21, falling silent for most of the next four years while renovation works are carried out, the House of Commons said on Monday.

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, although the bongs will still sound for important events such as New Year's Eve celebrations.

"This essential programme of works will safeguard the clock on a long term basis, as well as protecting and preserving its home, the Elizabeth Tower," said Steve Jaggs, Keeper of the Great Clock.

The Palace of Westminster on the bank of the River Thames, home to parliament, is a world heritage site and major tourist attraction, and Jaggs encouraged members of the public to gather in nearby Parliament Square to hear the final bongs next Monday.

The 96-metre-tall Elizabeth Tower, believed to be the most photographed building in the United Kingdom, is already half enveloped in scaffolding as part of a major renovation project.

As part of the works the clock housing Big Ben will be dismantled and each cog examined and restored. The clock's four dials will be cleaned and repaired, their cast iron framework renewed and the hands removed and refurbished.

One working clock face will remain visible at all times, telling the time silently, and it will be powered by a modern electric motor until the original clockwork mechanism is reinstated.

All the other bells which chime every 15 minutes will be silent as well during the works that are due to be completed in 2021 when Big Bell's familiar tolls will begin again.</s>Big Ben's famous chimes will fall silent from next week until 2021 to allow essential repair works to take place.

The bongs will sound for the final time at midday on Monday before being disconnected to allow the clock and surrounding tower to be restored.

The Great Bell has sounded on the hour for 157 years.

It last fell silent in 2007 and before that, for major refurbishments between 1983 and 1985.

Parliamentary authorities said stopping Big Ben - the commonly used name for the Palace of Westminster's Elizabeth Tower - would protect workers carrying out the repairs.

It will still sound for important events including New Year's Eve and Remembrance Sunday.

The clock's keeper, Steve Jaggs, said Big Ben falling silent was a "significant milestone" in the project to restore the tower.

"This essential programme of works will safeguard the clock on a long term basis, as well as protecting and preserving its home - the Elizabeth Tower," he added.
• The Great Bell forms part of the Great Clock in the Elizabeth Tower - commonly known as Big Ben
• It weighs 13.7 tonnes and the Elizabeth Tower stands 96ft tall
• Every hour it strikes an E note, and every 15 minutes four "quarter bells" chime
• To stop the chimes, the striking hammers will be locked until 2021

The landmark Elizabeth Tower is said to be the most photographed building in the UK.

Scaffolding is up and repair work has already started.

The project's principal architect Adam Watrobski told the BBC the works would install new amenities in the tower, including a lift, toilet and kitchen.

Essential maintenance will also be carried out and the building will be made more energy efficient.

As well as conservation work to the tower, the Great Clock will be dismantled piece-by-piece and its four dials will be cleaned and repaired.

The Ayrton Light, which shines when Parliament is sitting, will also be renovated.

During the repair work, an electric motor will drive the clock hands until the main mechanism has been restored, so it will continue to tell the time.

However, the faces will need to be temporarily covered while the clock is undergoing maintenance.

The wider Parliamentary estate is also in need of repair, and a multi billion-pound programme involving MPs temporarily relocating has been put forward.</s>Big Ben's famous chimes will fall silent until 2021 next week to allow essential repair works to take place.

The bongs will sound for the final time at midday on Monday before being disconnected to allow the clock and surrounding tower to be restored.

The Great Bell has sounded on the hour for 157 years.

It last fell silent in 2007 and before that, for major refurbishments between 1983 and 1985.

Parliamentary authorities said stopping Big Ben - the commonly used name for the Palace of Westminster's Elizabeth Tower - would protect workers carrying out the repairs.

It will still sound for important events including New Year's Eve and Remembrance Sunday.

The clock's keeper, Steve Jaggs, said Big Ben falling silent was a "significant milestone" in the project to restore the tower.

"This essential programme of works will safeguard the clock on a long term basis, as well as protecting and preserving its home - the Elizabeth Tower," he added.
• Formally known as the Great Bell, it forms part of the Great Clock in the Elizabeth Tower - commonly known as Big Ben
• Every hour it strikes an E note, and every 15 minutes four "quarter bells" chime
• To stop the chimes, the striking hammers will be locked until 2021

The landmark Elizabeth Tower is said to be the most photographed building in the UK.

Scaffolding is up and work has already started to repair and redecorate the interior, improve health and safety and fire protection systems, and make it more energy efficient.

During the repair work, an electric motor will drive the clock hands until the main mechanism has been restored, so it will continue to tell the time.

However, the faces will need to be temporarily covered while the clock itself is undergoing maintenance.

The wider Parliamentary estate is also in need of repair, and a multi-billion pound programme involving MPs temporarily relocating has been put forward.
London's Big Ben, atop Elizabeth Tower, will fall silent for four years beginning 21 August while essential repair works are performed.