The Irish shamrock and Welsh leek have been returned to their original green, while the Scottish thistle is green with a bright purple seed head. The St George’s cross shields above the Big Ben clock face have been painted red and white (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Heraldic shields – situated above the Ayrton Light, a lantern which shines when either House of Parliament is sitting – representing four parts of the United Kingdom have also been restored. Other key details have also returned to Barry’s original design, such as the row of six shields above each dial that displays St George’s red cross on a white background. The black paint on the stonework around the clock dials has been removed, and certain features have been gilded again.

Scaffolding is starting to come down, revealing Big Ben’s makeover (Stefan Rousseau/PA)Įxperts believe the colour scheme was chosen in the 1930s to mask the effects of pollution, but, returning to the original vision by Parliament’s architects Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin, the clock has since been updated.įollowing restoration off-site, the clock hands have been painted to match the original Prussian Blue colour scheme on the clock dials, with the hands reattached over the summer. Those passing over Westminster Bridge will be able to spot a colour-scheme change, along with the restoration of the decorative symbols of the UK which adorn the clock tower.įor decades, the clock dials and the stonework surrounding them were painted in many layers of black paint that became synonymous with Big Ben. Pictures show the painstaking level of detail that has gone into the five-year refurbishment, which is due to wrap up next year, of the famous bell and Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower, in which it is housed. The £80 million makeover of Big Ben is beginning to be unveiled as scaffolding continues to be removed from the national landmark. The hands were removed three years ago for restoration work as part of the Elizabeth tower restoration project, the most extensive programme of conservation ever carried out to the Tower, which is due for completion in 2022. The restored clock hands, which have been painted to match the original Prussian Blue colour scheme on the clock dials, which have been installed on the face of Big Ben at the Palace of Westminster, central London.

Download elizabeth clock tower