Now, for the first time ever, a University of Leicester team has been given special access to measure the vibrations of the famous bells for a new BBC Four documentary, Sound Waves: The Symphony of Physics. It’s the centrepiece of the London skyline, the Elizabeth Tower, fondly known as Big Ben, which has been keeping Londoners on time with its distinct hourly bong for over 150 years.

Credit: Carl Vivian, University of Leicester The Elizabeth Tower, also known as Big Ben. Credit: Carl Vivian, University of Leicester Engineers from the University of Leicester have discovered why London’s iconic Big Ben produces such a distinct bong Watrobski added that once this round of work is finished, “the building will be sound and secure for the next 60 years or so.The Elizabeth Tower, also known as Big Ben. “But you know at the end of the day all buildings have to be serviced,' he said.

The clock tower - also commonly called Big Ben, but formally named the Elizabeth Tower - is one of London’s most-photographed buildings.ĭuring the repair work, scaffolding will obscure parts of the tower, and the clock faces will be covered at times.Īdam Watrobski, principal architect at the Houses of Parliament, said authorities are well aware of how much interest the bell and the tower generate. The sound of the 13.5 UK tonne (15.1 US tonne, 13.7 metric tonne) bell became associated with Britain around the globe through World War II radio news broadcasts. The bell is not due to resume regular timekeeping until 2021, though it will be heard on special occasions such as New Year’s Eve. Labour lawmaker Stephen Pound said he and a few other legislators planned to stand under the clock tower “with bowed heads' as the final bongs sounded.īig Ben has been silenced for repairs before, most recently in 2007, but this stretch is by far the longest.

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