Big Ben restoration costs increasing - Nazi bombs did more damage than thought

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-bigben-idUSKBN20700G?taid=5e45830d035a2400014b528a

FEBRUARY 12, 2020 / 7:06 PM



LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s Big Ben tower at the Houses of Parliament was more badly damaged by German bombs during World War Two than originally thought, experts said on Thursday, as the bill for its restoration rose by 18.6 million pounds ($24 million).

The 177-year-old tower has been swathed in scaffolding for the past three years as craftsmen refurbish its stonework and famous 12-tonne clock.

Being able to get close to the 315-foot (96m) tower has allowed them to spot other problems like damage caused by pollution and asbestos.

The House of Commons and House of Lords Commissions said they had been told that to restore the tower to its previous splendor, the budget would need to rise from 61.1 million to 79.7 million pounds.

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[Moostache]

1. I was disappointed last summer when I went to London...

It was my first ever trip to Europe and the UK and Big Ben was scaffold draped and pretty much like the above picture...

It fell in line with my history of visiting landmarks or historical sites at inopportune moments.

I went to Washington DC and the Washington Monument was closed due to the earthquake damage...
That same trip to DC, the National Mall was under renovation and the reflecting pool was actually drained and under reconstruction...

I went to New York City, and the Ground Zero Memorial was under renovation on the outside and expansion of the grounds that meant a whole lot of that orange construction fencing everywhere you looked and took away for the solemnity of the location more than a little.

I went to Paris 6-weeks after Notre Dame Cathedral burned and was nearly lost...

I am afraid to go to Mount Rushmore, Rome or Athens!!!

[Dennis Donovan]

2. Like a perpetual Wally World

The closest I can come to that is when I went to DC in 2013, right after the Marathon bombing, the Ellipse was completely closed off, keeping me from seeing the Zero Milestone.

[chowder66]

6. I felt that way when I went to Holland and the Van Gogh Museum was under renovation and closed.

[maxsolomon]

3. Since the restoration will be invaluable...

Why stress the value?

Particularly since no one in America has to pay for it.

[msongs]

4. probably england's most famous landmark...after the queen nt

[Wounded Bear]

5. I thought it was this guy...

[A HERETIC I AM]

7. .......