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Big Ben Silenced for Repairs

Posted Aug 11, 07 4:14 PM CDT in World,  Arts & Living 

(Newser) – The world’s most famous clock chimed its last tones of August at 8 AM this morning, and its hands were set to 12:00. Though it will soon tell time again, Big Ben will be silent for at least a month as it undergoes maintenance, the Guardian reports. This morning Londoners watched the work begin, as a group of "industrial rope access technicians" repelled down the clock face.

Observers will soon see scaffolding erected to facilitate the replacement of several crucial bell components. An alternative electric time-telling mechanism is also to be installed. The work is the last phase of a plan to spruce up the landmark for its 150th anniversary in 2009.

Source Guardian (UK)

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Workmen clean the clock face of St Stephens Tower which houses Big Ben in London Saturday Aug. 11, 2007. Big Ben is losing its bongs _ temporarily. The famous bell that sounds the hour at Britain's Houses...   (Associated Press)
Workmen inspects the clock face of St Stephens Tower which houses Big Ben in London, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007. Big Ben is losing its bongs temporarily. The famous bell that sounds the hour at Britain's...   (Associated Press)
bongs would sound the hour for the last time at 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) Saturday before four to six weeks of maintenance work on the clock. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)   (Associated Press)
Concorde's Final Voyage   (Getty Images)
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