Newly restored North Dial of the Elizabeth Tower revealed

The North Dial of the Elizabeth Tower, which faces over Whitehall and the Embankment, is now fully visible as scaffolding surrounding it has been removed. The East Dial, which was previously visible, is now being covered to allow works to commence on it.

The new look North Dial is different to what we are used to, but is not new: it is in fact a return to the original design of Charles Barry and A.W. Pugin themselves.

Extensive historical research by the Architecture and Heritage team in Strategic Estates at Parliament, as well as expert paint analysis, revealed the original colour scheme, which over time had been transformed by pollution and overpainting.

The Great Clock's hands and the surfaces of the cast iron frame have now been stripped clean, and repainted in a deep Prussian blue. The stonework has also been stripped of black paint, and the corners of the dial painted a vibrant Cobalt blue, with an extensive application of gold leaf. Temporary clock hands have been attached in place of the originals, which are undergoing conservation along with the rest of the Victorian clock mechanism.

324 pieces of glass in the North Dial were removed as part of the conservation, and replaced with new, expertly made pot-opal glass to match the Victorian original.

Further information

Clock dials

• Number of clock dials: 4
  Clock dials diameter: 7m
  Length of hour figures: 60cm
  Clock dial frames: cast iron
  Glass in each clock dial: 324 pieces of pot opal glass

Minute hands

• Material: copper sheet
  Weight: 100kg, including counterweights
  Length: 4.2m
  Distance travelled by minute hands per year: equivalent of 190km

Hour hands

• Material: gun metal
  Weight: 300kg including counterweights
  Length: 2.7m
  The hour figure of 4 o'clock is shown by the Roman numeral IV, rather than the usual IIII on other clocks.

More information about the project is available on our website.