Big Ben tower was more severely damaged by Nazi bombs than previously believed.
London's Big Ben tower was more badly damaged by German bombs during World War II than originally thought, restoration experts have revealed.The repair budget will rise by almost a thirdswathed in scaffolding for the past three yearsBeing able to get close to the 96-metre tower has allowed them to spot problems which were previously overlooked.
Among other problems, bomb damage inflicted on the tower during World War II has been found to be more extensive than first believed. Although the tower survived Nazi Germany's bombing during the Blitz, its roof and dials were damaged in a May 1941 air raid which also destroyed the main House of Commons chamber.The bomb damage and other problems including asbestos and wear and tear from pollution have helped push the tower's restoration bill up more than 18 million pounds to 79.7 million pounds.
Ian Ailles, director-general of the House of Commons, said the task of restoring the tower had been more complex than anticipated. "Understanding the full extent of the damage to the tower was impossible until the scaffolding was up," he said in a statement.
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