- @
- Followers:
No Tweets Found
CNN POLITICS ON FACEBOOK » | CNN POLITICS ON TWITTER »
London's Clock Tower not quite upright
London’s iconic Clock Tower is tilting.
But as sure as the signature tolling from the four-faced clock rolls over Westminster, there is little to fear that the structure could topple anytime soon. Some jokingly suggest that as long as it doesn’t fall on their heads, all’s well.
The slight lean of 0.26 degrees to the northwest may not be noticeable to the naked eye - and certainly doesn’t compare to the 5-degree angle tilt of the Tower of Pisa in Italy - according to Surveyors of the Parliamentary Estates Department.
Experts believe it would take well over 4,000 years for the listing of Big Ben (as the tower is commonly called, though sticklers will remind you that the name refers to the great bell inside) to compare to the Tower of Pisa’s.
Jonathan Prew, the principal surveyor of the Parliament building, says the tilt has developed due to the varying thickness of the foundation beneath the tower.
“The tower weighs eight-and half thousand tons,” Prew said, “so it’s going to have an effect.”
It takes a total of 334 steps up the spiralling stairway inside the 96-meter (315-foot) tower to reach the clock phase, where the bells are housed.
Completed in 1858, the structure accents the majestic view of Parliament from the river Thames, and has served as the standard “This is London” shot in many famous films, including The “Harry Potter” Series, “V for Vendetta,” “39 Steps” and “Sweeney Todd.”
There's a little blue pill for that.
.
Politicians want to know if its leaning left or right.
Omg...lmao @ both of the above posts!
Nothing a little shim won't fix.
V for Vendetta :3
Um.... maybe it has moved because of the massive train tunnel they built under Big Ben. Construction companies pumped thousands of gallons of cement into the ground to stabilize the hole they cut for the Jubilee Line Extenstion.... just sayin...
London is one of my favorite places in the world.
I used to want to live there, but the inhabitants' manners, sadly, have changed, at least on the street.
Nevertheless, the Clock Tower will stand as long as I do.
um...do they get quakes over there? that could pose a problem
Hey JIF. I always wanted to see Ole Ben. I've been sitting on sidelines as I've been trolled and didn't appreciate it. Though no one does. I guess one could say the leaning tower of London. Anyway, good nite.
Oh I lived there Im better that everyone I only drive German cars I am so famous JIF who ? never heard of ya!what a pud
Typo in the last paragraph – "completed", not "competed". Just sayin'
Sorry, I'm just anal about stuff like that. My students ask me to review their resumes, and I tell them that the slightest typo or spelling error will throw them out of the employment pool.
Nice Catch!
Hi there, Diknur Mouth.
Surely you've heard of me. I'm very famous.
My real name is JIF Smith!
Look me up.
Say something interesting.
Dik,
Let's talk about London.
Where do you stay when you go there?
I like the Connaught: great food, and quiet.
No, I never lived in London, but I've worked there many times, and twice for a few months.
It has changed over the decades.
It's British so no surprise there, some Viagra might help.
A "wee tilt"? Did someone tell whoever wrote the headline for the article that Big Ben is in England not Scotland??