After four years of silence, the Big Ben, which has been keeping time in London since 1859, is slated to return to service right in time for New Year’s Eve on December 31, 2021. The Big Ben is often confused with the entire clock tower, but the name refers to the internal clock and the largest bell inside the tower that chimes every hour.

The Big Ben last chimed back in August 21, 2017 but service had to be suspended due to much-needed maintenance. The responsibility for restoring the ancient towering clock to its former glory was taken up by the Cumbria Clock Company, from England‘s Lake District, who restored approximately 1,000 parts of the Big Ben over the past four years. It was no simple feat, considering that the clock weighs a mind-blowing five tonnes and stands seven feet two inches tall.

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The maintenance of the ancient clock marked its most expensive repair till date and cost approximately £79.7 million (about $107 million). Initial costs were lower but were driven up when maintenance crews took the clock apart and found that bombings by Germany during World War II had caused extensive internal damage. While some politicians complained about the rising cost of the refurbishment, it was eventually sanctioned.

Despite these delays, the crew working on the clock managed to repair it in time for New Year’s Eve, an especially remarkable feat considering that COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world over the past two years.

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Trials in the form of intermittent tests were carried out on December 29 and 30 to ensure that everything was in working order for the grand re-instatement of the grand clock on New Year’s Eve.

According to the reported schedule, the Big Ben will chime once on December 31 noon, followed by chimes at 4pm, 9pm, 10pm, 11pm, and of course midnight, marking the start of the new year.