Countdown to completion. One of the biggest restoration jobs ever undertaken on a landmark¹ British building is approaching the finish line.

竣工指日可待。有史以来在英国标志性建筑上进行的规模最大的修复工程之一就要接近尾声。

 

Ian Westworth, Clock Mechanic 

We are servicing the rollers. This is one of the bits that we couldn't actually get to and service while the minute hands were on.

伊恩·韦斯特沃思       钟表修理工

“我们正在维修轮轴。这是当表盘上还装有分针的时候，我们没法够到并维修的部件之一。

 

Working on this clock would be a once in a lifetime opportunity – to actually have taken it all to pieces, putting it back together again, and then carry on looking after it for a few more years – that's just going to be fantastic.

维修这座钟是一个千载难逢的机会，能把它全部拆卸、重新组装，再做几年维护，这是一件多棒的事情啊。”

 

Tim Muffett, BBC Correspondent

One of the most striking things you notice is the colour of the clock faces. For many years, the minute demarcations, the numbers and the clock hands were painted black. But during the refurbishment, as many layers of paint were stripped away, it became clear that they were originally this shade of blue – it's called Prussian Blue, and that is what they have been repainted in.

蒂姆·马菲特       BBC通讯员

“其中一个最明显的地方是钟面的颜色。多年来，分钟的标线、数字和指针都被漆成了黑色。但在这次整修过程中，由于多层油漆被剥去，可以很明显地看出，它们原本是这种蓝色，被称作普鲁士蓝，这就是它们被重新涂上的颜色。”

 

With the clock mechanism² out of action, a computerised system has meant that on special occasions, Big Ben has still been struck.

虽然时钟的机械装置无法运转，但由于还有一套计算机系统，在特殊场合中，大本钟仍可被敲响。

 

Mark Collins, Historian

We are standing³ in the belfry of the Elizabeth Tower, and it was specially⁴ constructed so that the chiming bells for the four quarters could be heard right across London.

马克·柯林斯       历史学家

“我们正站在伊丽莎白塔的钟室里，钟室的特殊结构让每刻钟敲响的钟声都能传遍伦敦各地。”

 

There's one piece of damage here that's been deliberately⁵ left alone.

这里有一处破损被特意保留下来。

 

This crack appeared when Big Ben was struck during a test in 1858. The hammer was too heavy, but it gives the bell its unique tone. 

这条裂缝是1858年的一次测试中，大本钟被敲响时出现的。这是因为钟锤太沉了，但正是这条裂缝给了大本钟独特的音调。

 

Mark Collins, Historian

It should be 'E' – the note E , but it does give it a slightly flat sound, a very serious sound, in fact. No change to the bell whatsoever⁶ because it's become the familiar, the familiar note.

马克·柯林斯       历史学家

“大本钟的音调本来应该是 E，但这的确令它的声音听起来偏低，甚至令它听起来很庄严。人们并没有对钟作出改变，因为这个音调已经被大家听惯了。”

 

A much-loved building largely hidden for the past few years, slowly revealing itself once more.

在过去几年里，这座备受喜爱的建筑大部分被遮住了，而现在它又一次慢慢揭开面纱。

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