A three-year programme of essential works to conserve the Elizabeth Tower, the Great Clock and the Great Bell, also known as Big Ben are due to begin early 2017.

To ensure that the UK’s most famous clock continues to keep time, experts closely monitor the mechanism and carry out adjustments on a daily basis.

The Elizabeth Tower, which is visited by around 12,000 people each year, is carefully conserved by Parliament’s heritage team. However, as extensive conservation works were last carried out more than 30 years ago (1983-1985), significant work and an investment of £29m is now required to ensure it remains in good condition and is safeguarded for future generations.

Photographer Sunny Pang (facebook.com/uklightshadow) says: 

“暂别 . 大笨钟」Good Bye soon, Big Ben 近日看新闻得知…我们熟悉的伦敦地标 – 大笨钟明年将会进行维修工程…也许更会长达３年时间..这位近160岁的「笨爷爷」原来已经过百年没有停止运行，也许需要给他休息片刻了，维修的日子他的外围应该会被围封着框架一段日子（天啊…框架可以是透明的吗？）而且因为他内部需要大修，所以据说零件全部都要拆掉重修，所以到时候起码一段长时间不会听到它每１５分钟““噹噹噹““的报时声了。

期望…英国人能发挥极速的复修能力（嗯…我以前工作的地方旁边一座小房子…建了２年都没建好…）请到时快让大笨爷重见天日吧.”

As the Tower is 96 metres tall, scaffolding is needed to enable workers to reach high levels safely. Scaffolding will be dismantled as the work is completed from the top, and at least one clock face will be on show at all times.

As a Grade I listed building within a UNESCO World Heritage site, the 160-year-old Tower is subject to listed building consent. This programme of works has been carefully planned in consultation with Historic England.