WWII Nazi bomb damage seen on Big Ben’s tower during renovations

It’s been about 80 years since German bombs rained down on London, but damage from World War II is just being seen on the city’s iconic tower that houses Big Ben.

The tower, which is called the Elizabeth Tower, houses the clock, Big Ben. Originally called simply the Clock Tower, it was renamed in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee in 2012, the BBC reported.

Elizabeth Tower has been covered in scaffolding during a yearslong restoration project and it’s allowing workers to get an up-close look at its condition, according to Reuters.

Experts knew the damage inflicted by the ordinance dropped in May 1941, but the didn’t know how bad it really was. They were aware that the roof and dials of the clock were damaged as a nearby main House of Commons chamber was destroyed during the war, Reuters reported.

During the pre-work inspection, workers found damage to intricate carvings, along with toxic substances like lead paint and asbestos, the BBC reported.

Not only did the bombing cause damage, so did pollution, according to Reuters.

There is also broken glass in the clock dials and a clock expert will be needed to get it in working order.

The BBC said all 1,296 pieces of glass that make up the clock’s four dials will need replacing.

Since workers discovered additional damage, the cost to restore the tower and clock rose by about $25 million, Reuters reported.

The cost to fully restore Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben will be about $104.4 million, which will have to be approved by the accounting officers in Parliament, the BBC reported.

The restoration started in 2017 and was expected to continue until 2021.

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