Free activities and events in New York City


The Conservation of the Great Clock of Westminster — Big Ben

Published: May 30, 2025; Aithor: Julia Sonrisa

When: June 9, 2025
Where: The General Society Library

Address: 20 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036, United States

Phone: +1 212-921-1767

Web: https://generalsociety.org/?page_id=103

In 2017, the Great Clock of Westminster—better known as Big Ben — was fully dismantled and removed from the iconic Elizabeth Tower for the first time since its installation in 1859. This unprecedented conservation project, completed in 2022, presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to examine, restore, and future-proof the world’s most famous public timepiece.

At the June 2025 lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Keith Scobie-Youngs, co-founder of The Cumbria Clock Company, will share behind-the-scenes of the entire five-year restoration process, from the meticulous disassembly and transportation of the 5.5-ton movement to the intricate conservation techniques employed by his specialist team. Every stage of the project was guided by a deep respect for the clock’s original craftsmanship and a commitment to ensuring its reliable operation for another 160 years and beyond.

Join Scobie-Youngs, lead conservator on the project, as he shares the challenges, discoveries, and triumphs of restoring this remarkable Victorian masterpiece to its full glory.

Time: 6:00-8:00 pm EST

Free!

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