BIG BEN CENTENARY CLEAN (LONDON LANDMARKS)
colour photo of the famous Big Ben clock about to be lifted from its base and submerged into the river
Thames for a much needed wash. This rare event has been occurring for over a thousand years with
spectators through the ages watching the famous clock lifted and dunked into the river. In ye olden
tymes cranes of the sophistication that we have nowadays were obviously not available and craftsman
of the time were given the task of designing suitable big Ben moving apparatus. Those whose designs
were deemed unsuitable were beheaded and their heads hung from light points along Westminster
bridge. The man whose head would have been been No243 was pleased to have his still attached
to his neck as his design was successful and used until the next clean some 100 years later
use of image is prohibited without permission from the photographer. Contact mike @ photos london .com