1
00:00:00,833 --> 00:00:02,367
*

2
00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,067
Narrator: THE HOUSES
OF PARLIAMENT IN LONDON,

3
00:00:05,100 --> 00:00:08,200
ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC
STRUCTURES ON THE PLANET.

4
00:00:08,233 --> 00:00:10,033
THIS WASN'T JUST BUILDING
A BUILDING.

5
00:00:10,067 --> 00:00:11,933
THIS WAS A MAJOR PIECE
OF ENGINEERING.

6
00:00:11,967 --> 00:00:13,867
Narrator:
MYSTERIES AND SECRETS LIE

7
00:00:13,900 --> 00:00:16,000
BENEATH THE SKIN
OF THIS MEGA STRUCTURE.

8
00:00:16,033 --> 00:00:19,033
IT'S THE MOST REMARKABLE
BUILDING IN THE WORLD.

9
00:00:19,067 --> 00:00:20,567
Narrator:
HOW DID ITS CREATORS

10
00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,333
PUSH TECHNOLOGY
TO THE VERY LIMITS

11
00:00:23,367 --> 00:00:27,233
AND INVENT THE BLUEPRINT
FOR MODERN SKYSCRAPERS?

12
00:00:27,267 --> 00:00:31,033
WHAT KEEPS THE WORLD'S MOST
FAMOUS CLOCK IN PERFECT TIME?

13
00:00:31,067 --> 00:00:35,667
AND HOW DOES IT SURVIVE ALL THAT
MOTHER NATURE CAN THROW AT IT?

14
00:00:35,700 --> 00:00:39,100
THE ONLY WAY
TO SOLVE THESE MYSTERIES IS

15
00:00:39,133 --> 00:00:43,100
TO BLOW THIS IMMENSE PALACE
APART, BRICK BY BRICK

16
00:00:43,133 --> 00:00:47,533
AND DISMANTLE ITS FAMOUS
CLOCK TOWER COG BY COG.

17
00:00:47,567 --> 00:00:51,033
DIVING DEEP THROUGH ITS WALL
AND VAULTS WILL HELP US

18
00:00:51,067 --> 00:00:53,200
UNEARTH THE ASTONISHING SECRETS

19
00:00:53,233 --> 00:00:55,900
AT THE HEART
OF THIS VICTORIAN WONDER.

20
00:00:55,933 --> 00:00:58,633
*

21
00:00:58,667 --> 00:01:01,700
-- Captions by VITAC --
 www.vitac.com

22
00:01:01,733 --> 00:01:04,700
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

23
00:01:04,733 --> 00:01:07,200
STANDING ON THE BANKS
OF THE RIVER THAMES,

24
00:01:07,233 --> 00:01:11,400
IN THE HEART OF LONDON, ENGLAND,
IS THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER,

25
00:01:11,433 --> 00:01:15,467
BETTER KNOWN
AS THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

26
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,667
A LABYRINTH OF MORE THAN 3 MILES
OF CORRIDORS

27
00:01:22,700 --> 00:01:24,933
CONNECTING MORE THAN 1,000

28
00:01:24,967 --> 00:01:28,500
GRAND ROOMS, CHAMBERS,
AND VAULTS.

29
00:01:28,533 --> 00:01:30,200
THIS SITE HAS BEEN THE HOME

30
00:01:30,233 --> 00:01:34,167
OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
FOR CENTURIES.

31
00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:38,433
IT'S BUILT TO LOOK LIKE
A GIANT MEDIEVAL CASTLE.

32
00:01:38,467 --> 00:01:41,833
BUT IT HIDES
MANY MODERN SECRETS.

33
00:01:44,933 --> 00:01:48,833
THIS IMMENSE PALACE
WAS COMPLETED IN 1870.

34
00:01:48,867 --> 00:01:53,233
IT HAS MORE THAN 1,000 ROOMS
SPREAD ACROSS 8 ACRES.

35
00:01:53,267 --> 00:01:56,800
IT HAS THREE SPECTACULAR TOWERS.

36
00:01:56,833 --> 00:01:59,067
TO THE SOUTH,
THE VICTORIA TOWER,

37
00:01:59,067 --> 00:02:01,333
THE TALLEST SQUARE TOWER
IN THE WORLD

38
00:02:01,367 --> 00:02:03,633
WHEN IT WAS COMPLETED.

39
00:02:03,667 --> 00:02:09,333
IN THE CENTER, THE HUGE SPIRE
HAS OVER 2,000 PANES OF GLASS.

40
00:02:09,367 --> 00:02:12,267
AND TO THE NORTH,
THE ICONIC BIG BEN,

41
00:02:12,300 --> 00:02:14,900
HOME TO ONE
OF THE GREATEST TIMEPIECES

42
00:02:14,933 --> 00:02:16,767
THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

43
00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,533
*

44
00:02:19,567 --> 00:02:22,467
AN ENGINEERING MARVEL,
WHEN IT WAS CONSTRUCTED,

45
00:02:22,500 --> 00:02:24,800
THIS WAS ONE
OF THE MOST ADVANCED BUILDINGS

46
00:02:24,833 --> 00:02:26,133
ON THE PLANET.

47
00:02:28,967 --> 00:02:33,067
AN ARMY OF WORKERS KEEPS THE
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT RUNNING.

48
00:02:33,100 --> 00:02:35,967
AND TODAY,
A MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR

49
00:02:36,067 --> 00:02:38,567
RESTORATION PROJECT
IS UNDER WAY,

50
00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,933
UPGRADING THE BUILDING'S ROOF,

51
00:02:42,967 --> 00:02:45,633
STONEWORK,

52
00:02:45,667 --> 00:02:48,300
AND ORNATE INTERIORS.

53
00:02:48,333 --> 00:02:50,367
THE PROJECT IS HELPING TO UNLOCK

54
00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,700
THE VICTORIAN MYSTERIES
OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

55
00:02:54,733 --> 00:02:57,300
CHIEF AMONG THEM
IS THE CLOCK TOWER,

56
00:02:57,333 --> 00:03:00,167
A PIONEERING DISPLAY
OF ENGINEERING GENIUS

57
00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:02,300
BETTER KNOWN AS BIG BEN.

58
00:03:02,333 --> 00:03:05,367
*

59
00:03:08,867 --> 00:03:11,733
HOW DID THE VICTORIANS
MAKE THE WORLD'S LARGEST,

60
00:03:11,767 --> 00:03:16,200
MOST AMBITIOUS CLOCK
AND HAVE IT RUN ON TIME

61
00:03:16,233 --> 00:03:20,100
IN A TOWER
ALMOST 300 FEET TALL?

62
00:03:20,133 --> 00:03:21,967
INSIDE THE TOWER,

63
00:03:22,067 --> 00:03:24,700
IT IS MASTER CLOCKMAKER
IAN WESTWORTH'S JOB

64
00:03:24,733 --> 00:03:27,133
TO KEEP BIG BEN
RUNNING ON TIME.

65
00:03:27,167 --> 00:03:31,933
YOU'VE GOT 334 STAIRS
IN THE CLOCK TOWER

66
00:03:31,967 --> 00:03:36,233
AND NO LIFT, UNFORTUNATELY.

67
00:03:36,267 --> 00:03:38,433
Narrator:
IT'S A TASK THAT TAKES HIM

68
00:03:38,467 --> 00:03:41,200
BEHIND THE FACE
OF THIS FAMOUS LANDMARK

69
00:03:41,233 --> 00:03:42,533
AND INTO THE HEART

70
00:03:42,567 --> 00:03:45,067
OF THIS CLOCK'S
EXTRAORDINARY MECHANISM.

71
00:03:45,100 --> 00:03:48,133
*

72
00:03:49,500 --> 00:03:54,633
INSIDE THIS ICONIC CLOCK TOWER
HANGS BIG BEN ITSELF,

73
00:03:54,667 --> 00:03:58,267
THE NEARLY 14-TON BELL THAT
GIVES THE TOWER ITS NICKNAME.

74
00:03:58,300 --> 00:04:02,067
THE BELLS THAT CHIME ON
THE QUARTER-HOUR SIT AROUND IT.

75
00:04:02,100 --> 00:04:04,767
THEIR STRIKES ARE CONTROLLED
BY THE INTRICATE

76
00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,500
TICKING MECHANISM
AT THE HEART OF THE TOWER.

77
00:04:07,533 --> 00:04:12,500
IT KEEPS THE CLOCK ACCURATE
TO WITHIN JUST 2 SECONDS A WEEK.

78
00:04:12,533 --> 00:04:18,300
ON EACH SIDE, 312 SHARDS OF OPAL
GLASS MAKE UP THE CLOCK FACE.

79
00:04:19,867 --> 00:04:22,733
THE COPPER MINUTE HANDS
ARE 14 FEET LONG --

80
00:04:22,767 --> 00:04:25,500
AS TALL AS A DOUBLE-DECKER BUS.

81
00:04:25,533 --> 00:04:28,933
THESE FAMOUS DIALS HAVE KEPT
LONDON RUNNING ON TIME

82
00:04:28,967 --> 00:04:31,500
FOR 160 YEARS.

83
00:04:34,100 --> 00:04:37,933
LIKE ANY ORDINARY WRISTWATCH,
THIS CLOCK NEEDS WINDING,

84
00:04:37,967 --> 00:04:41,367
JUST AS IT DID
IN VICTORIAN TIMES.

85
00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,133
PUT THE WINDING HANDLE ON...

86
00:04:44,167 --> 00:04:48,133
AND THEN WINDING FOR ABOUT
THE NEXT HOUR AND A HALF.

87
00:04:48,167 --> 00:04:51,933
Narrator: WHEN PARLIAMENT
COMMISSIONED THIS CLOCK IN 1854,

88
00:04:51,967 --> 00:04:54,200
THEY INSISTED BIG BEN
BE THE BIGGEST,

89
00:04:54,233 --> 00:04:57,733
MOST POWERFUL CHIMING CLOCK
IN THE WORLD...

90
00:04:57,767 --> 00:04:59,333
[ GEAR CLICKS ]

91
00:04:59,367 --> 00:05:02,333
AND MOST CHALLENGING
FOR THE DESIGNERS,

92
00:05:02,367 --> 00:05:04,867
ACCURATE TO WITHIN
2 SECONDS PER WEEK.

93
00:05:04,900 --> 00:05:06,333
[ GEARS CLICKING ]

94
00:05:06,367 --> 00:05:07,633
BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM

95
00:05:07,667 --> 00:05:10,600
WITH MAKING
SUCH A GIANT CLOCK ACCURATE.

96
00:05:10,633 --> 00:05:13,133
Westworth:
THE CLOCKMAKERS OF THE DAY
SAID YOU JUST COULDN'T DO IT.

97
00:05:13,167 --> 00:05:15,733
OUR MINUTE HANDS
ARE 14 FEET LONG,

98
00:05:15,767 --> 00:05:19,133
SO IN A GOOD GUST OF WIND,
THEY ACTED LIKE SAILS.

99
00:05:19,167 --> 00:05:22,467
AND CLOCKS BEFORE THIS TIME,
THE WIND WOULD CATCH THE HANDS,

100
00:05:22,500 --> 00:05:25,733
AND THE HANDS WOULD DRIVE BACK
AND MAKE THE CLOCK INACCURATE.

101
00:05:25,767 --> 00:05:28,067
*

102
00:05:28,100 --> 00:05:29,533
Narrator:
HOW DID THE VICTORIANS

103
00:05:29,567 --> 00:05:32,600
DESIGN A CLOCK
THAT COULD RESIST THE WIND?

104
00:05:36,567 --> 00:05:39,633
THE SECRET TO STOPPING
STRONG GUSTS BLOWING THE HANDS

105
00:05:39,667 --> 00:05:41,800
OUT OF TIME
IS A SET OF HEAVY WEIGHTS

106
00:05:41,833 --> 00:05:46,200
THAT PULL THE HANDS AROUND
AS THEY DROP.

107
00:05:46,233 --> 00:05:48,700
TWO SWINGING ARMS
KEEP THE WEIGHTS DROPPING

108
00:05:48,733 --> 00:05:51,300
AT THE CORRECT SPEED
BY PUSHING THE PENDULUM,

109
00:05:51,333 --> 00:05:54,133
WHICH SETS THE TICKING SPEED
OF THE CLOCK.

110
00:05:54,167 --> 00:05:57,467
*

111
00:05:57,500 --> 00:06:01,600
THE PENDULUM TURNS A RATCHET
WHEEL ONCE EVERY SECOND...

112
00:06:04,067 --> 00:06:07,067
...WHICH RELEASES THE WEIGHTS
BY A PRECISE AMOUNT...

113
00:06:09,633 --> 00:06:11,867
...SO THEY CAN PULL
THE CLOCK HANDS AROUND

114
00:06:11,900 --> 00:06:14,267
AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT SPEED.

115
00:06:19,833 --> 00:06:23,867
THE VICTORIANS HAD STOPPED
THE WIND FROM AFFECTING BIG BEN,

116
00:06:23,900 --> 00:06:27,067
BUT WITH ANY CLOCK,
MINUTE CHANGES IN THE ATMOSPHERE

117
00:06:27,100 --> 00:06:30,567
COULD ALSO IMPACT THE MECHANISM.

118
00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:34,500
AND THE BIGGER THE CLOCK,
THE BIGGER THE RISK.

119
00:06:34,533 --> 00:06:37,267
TODAY, IAN USES TECHNOLOGY

120
00:06:37,300 --> 00:06:40,400
THAT VICTORIAN CLOCKMAKERS
COULD ONLY DREAM OF.

121
00:06:40,433 --> 00:06:44,200
A SYSTEM OF SENSORS HOOKED UP
TO A COMPUTER ALLOWS HIM

122
00:06:44,233 --> 00:06:47,433
TO MONITOR
THE TINY ATMOSPHERIC CHANGES.

123
00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:53,067
WE'VE GOT TEMPERATURE
IN THE CLOCK ROOM,

124
00:06:53,067 --> 00:06:54,200
WHICH WE MONITOR ALL THE TIME.

125
00:06:54,233 --> 00:06:57,067
THE GREEN LINE TRACKS
CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE

126
00:06:57,067 --> 00:07:01,200
THAT CAUSES THE MECHANISM'S
METAL TO EXPAND AND CONTRACT.

127
00:07:01,233 --> 00:07:04,133
Westworth: JUST THESE LITTLE
BLIPS ON THE TEMPERATURE

128
00:07:04,167 --> 00:07:05,700
ARE PEOPLE COMING IN.

129
00:07:05,733 --> 00:07:07,700
THAT'S HOW ACCURATE
WE'RE ACTUALLY MONITORING

130
00:07:07,733 --> 00:07:09,733
WHAT'S GOING ON
INSIDE THE CLOCK ROOM.

131
00:07:09,767 --> 00:07:12,400
Narrator: ANOTHER SENSOR
ALLOWS IAN TO CHECK THE EFFECT

132
00:07:12,433 --> 00:07:15,767
OF THESE TEMPERATURE CHANGES
ON THE PENDULUM.

133
00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,600
AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE 14 1/2 FEET LONG PENDULUM,

134
00:07:18,633 --> 00:07:20,100
THERE'S AN OPTICAL SENSOR.

135
00:07:20,133 --> 00:07:22,533
EVERY TIME THE PENDULUM
BREAKS THE OPTICS,

136
00:07:22,567 --> 00:07:24,567
IT SENDS A MESSAGE
TO THIS LAPTOP.

137
00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,933
THE PENDULUM SHOULD
BE BREAKING IT EVERY 2 SECONDS.

138
00:07:27,967 --> 00:07:30,900
AND THE BROWN LINE
DOWN THE MIDDLE WILL TELL US

139
00:07:30,933 --> 00:07:34,367
EXACTLY HOW CLOSE
TO 2 SECONDS WE ARE.

140
00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:40,067
AT THE MOMENT,
WE'RE RUNNING AT 2.00012.

141
00:07:40,100 --> 00:07:42,167
SHE'S DOING
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC,

142
00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:44,400
APART FROM BEING
A LITTLE BIT SLOW.

143
00:07:44,433 --> 00:07:46,900
Narrator: IAN THINKS THAT
THE DAY'S TEMPERATURE CHANGES

144
00:07:46,933 --> 00:07:49,500
HAVE CAUSED THIS INACCURACY.

145
00:07:49,533 --> 00:07:52,700
IT MAY BE SMALL,
BUT WITHOUT EXPERT INTERVENTION,

146
00:07:52,733 --> 00:07:55,167
IT WILL KNOCK THE CLOCK
5 SECONDS OUT OF TIME

147
00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,767
IN A SINGLE DAY.

148
00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:02,733
IAN CHECKS IF BIG BEN
IS ON TIME.

149
00:08:02,767 --> 00:08:06,167
HE GETS AN ACCURATE READING
OF GREENWICH MEAN TIME

150
00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,100
AND THEN HEADS TO THE BELFRY.

151
00:08:09,133 --> 00:08:11,700
IT'S CURRENTLY ALMOST 10:00 A.M.

152
00:08:11,733 --> 00:08:16,067
WILL BIG BEN CHIME ON TIME?

153
00:08:16,067 --> 00:08:18,133
Westworth:
SO, WHAT YOU'LL SEE --

154
00:08:18,167 --> 00:08:20,233
THIS IS THE FIRST HAMMER
THAT MOVES,

155
00:08:20,267 --> 00:08:21,667
SO IT DOESN'T COME AS A SHOCK.

156
00:08:21,700 --> 00:08:23,533
IF YOU WATCH THAT ONE,
IT'LL LIFT UP

157
00:08:23,567 --> 00:08:25,967
AND DROP AND PLAY THE 16 NOTES.

158
00:08:26,067 --> 00:08:28,300
THEN THERE'S A PAUSE
OF ABOUT 10 SECONDS,

159
00:08:28,333 --> 00:08:29,500
AND THEN THAT ONE WILL GO.

160
00:08:29,533 --> 00:08:31,633
IT'LL BE ANY MOMENT...

161
00:08:31,667 --> 00:08:32,933
NOW.

162
00:08:32,967 --> 00:08:35,067
[ BELLS TOLLING ]

163
00:08:51,533 --> 00:08:53,567
[ BELL TOLLS ]

164
00:08:57,067 --> 00:08:59,800
Narrator: BIG BEN'S CHIME
ROARS ACROSS THE CAPITAL

165
00:08:59,833 --> 00:09:01,933
AT 118 DECIBELS,

166
00:09:01,967 --> 00:09:05,167
ALMOST AS LOUD
AS A JET PLANE TAKING OFF.

167
00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:07,733
Westworth: YOU CAN FEEL
THE VIBRATION OF THE BELL

168
00:09:07,767 --> 00:09:10,167
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE BELFRY.

169
00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:11,867
WHEN THE BELL WAS FIRST FITTED,

170
00:09:11,900 --> 00:09:14,167
YOU COULD HEAR IT
10 KILOMETERS AWAY.

171
00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,433
NOWADAYS, YOU'LL BE LUCKY TO
HEAR IT HALF A KILOMETER AWAY

172
00:09:17,467 --> 00:09:21,233
ACROSS THE RIVER, 'CAUSE THERE'S
SO MUCH NOISE IN LONDON NOW.

173
00:09:21,267 --> 00:09:23,300
[ TOLLING CONTINUES ]

174
00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,267
Narrator:
SO, IS THE CLOCK ON TIME?

175
00:09:27,300 --> 00:09:29,267
WE'RE ONE SECOND SLOW.

176
00:09:29,300 --> 00:09:32,467
Narrator: WITH THE TEMPERATURE
AFFECTING BIG BEN THIS MUCH,

177
00:09:32,500 --> 00:09:35,300
IAN NEEDS TO BRING
THE CLOCK BACK UP TO SPEED.

178
00:09:35,333 --> 00:09:37,633
BUT HOW CAN HE ADJUST
THE TIME ON A CLOCK

179
00:09:37,667 --> 00:09:41,067
THAT'S GOT 14-FOOT-LONG HANDS?

180
00:09:41,067 --> 00:09:43,700
IAN KNOWS THE SECRET
THAT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN

181
00:09:43,733 --> 00:09:46,600
FROM BIG BEN'S
ORIGINAL CLOCK KEEPERS.

182
00:09:46,633 --> 00:09:50,200
Westworth: TRADITIONALLY,
WHAT WE DO, WE ADD A PENNY.

183
00:09:50,233 --> 00:09:52,733
ONE PENNY --
OLD PRE-DECIMAL COIN --

184
00:09:52,767 --> 00:09:57,500
SPEEDS THE CLOCK UP JUST TO
BRING THE CLOCK BACK INTO TIME.

185
00:09:57,533 --> 00:09:59,667
Narrator: LIKE THOSE
ORIGINAL CLOCK KEEPERS,

186
00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:02,867
IAN KNOWS THIS TINY WEIGHT
RAISES THE PENDULUM'S

187
00:10:02,900 --> 00:10:06,000
CENTER OF GRAVITY
AND MAKES IT SWING FASTER.

188
00:10:06,033 --> 00:10:09,100
WE'VE CORRECTED IT,
AND IT'S COME BACK UP TO TIME.

189
00:10:09,133 --> 00:10:11,533
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD
FOR A 160-YEAR-OLD CLOCK.

190
00:10:11,567 --> 00:10:13,867
Narrator: WITH THE MIXTURE
OF VICTORIAN KNOW-HOW

191
00:10:13,900 --> 00:10:15,500
AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY,

192
00:10:15,533 --> 00:10:18,133
IAN KEEPS BIG BEN
IN PERFECT TIME.

193
00:10:18,167 --> 00:10:19,633
[ BELL TOLLS ]

194
00:10:19,667 --> 00:10:23,067
*

195
00:10:23,100 --> 00:10:26,467
THE CLOCK STANDS
IN A NEARLY 9,000-TON TOWER

196
00:10:26,500 --> 00:10:30,067
THAT RISES FROM LONDON'S
SOFT, GRAVELLY EARTH.

197
00:10:30,100 --> 00:10:33,600
HOW DID THE VICTORIANS
STOP THIS BEHEMOTH TOWER

198
00:10:33,633 --> 00:10:36,633
FROM COLLAPSING
ON SUCH UNSTABLE GROUND?

199
00:10:36,667 --> 00:10:38,533
AND HOW HAS IT SURVIVED

200
00:10:38,567 --> 00:10:41,800
AS THE CITY HAS EXPANDED
BENEATH IT?

201
00:10:43,667 --> 00:10:46,633
*

202
00:10:46,667 --> 00:10:48,900
Narrator: THE HOUSES
OF PARLIAMENT IN LONDON,

203
00:10:48,933 --> 00:10:53,000
THE MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY
ADVANCED BUILDING OF ITS AGE.

204
00:10:53,033 --> 00:10:55,967
AN ARMY OF EXPERTS
KEEPS THIS STRUCTURE RUNNING,

205
00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:59,267
REVEALING ITS VICTORIAN SECRETS
AS THEY GO.

206
00:10:59,300 --> 00:11:02,067
*

207
00:11:02,067 --> 00:11:04,267
FOR OVER A CENTURY,
BIG BEN HAS BEEN

208
00:11:04,300 --> 00:11:06,667
THE TICKING HEART
AT THE CITY'S CENTER.

209
00:11:06,700 --> 00:11:09,267
A TRIUMPH OF ENGINEERING,

210
00:11:09,300 --> 00:11:11,733
SUPPORTING THIS
GROUNDBREAKING CLOCK

211
00:11:11,767 --> 00:11:14,733
REQUIRES A TOWER
THAT'S EQUALLY MAGNIFICENT.

212
00:11:17,833 --> 00:11:20,933
MADE FROM OVER 1 MILLION
STONES AND BRICKS,

213
00:11:20,967 --> 00:11:24,833
THIS TOWER IS ENORMOUSLY HEAVY.

214
00:11:24,867 --> 00:11:29,633
38 TONS OF IRON TILE SIT
ON TOP OF THE SPIRE.

215
00:11:29,667 --> 00:11:34,333
BENEATH THEM,
THE BRONZE BELLS WEIGH 24 TONS.

216
00:11:34,367 --> 00:11:38,800
THE CLOCK MECHANISM IS
AS HEAVY AS A MILITARY TRUCK.

217
00:11:38,833 --> 00:11:41,833
TO HOLD UP
THE COLOSSAL STRUCTURE --

218
00:11:41,867 --> 00:11:45,100
NEARLY 9,000 TONS
OF STONE AND BRICK --

219
00:11:45,133 --> 00:11:49,133
THE VICTORIANS BUILT A CONCRETE
FOUNDATION ALMOST 10 FEET THICK

220
00:11:49,167 --> 00:11:52,933
TO STOP THE TOWERS FROM SINKING
INTO THE WET SAND BENEATH.

221
00:11:52,967 --> 00:11:56,400
THESE SOLID FOUNDATIONS
HAVE KEPT THIS LONDON LANDMARK

222
00:11:56,433 --> 00:11:59,567
STANDING TALL FOR 160 YEARS.

223
00:12:02,133 --> 00:12:04,267
BUT THE CHALLENGES
FACING BIG BEN

224
00:12:04,300 --> 00:12:07,533
WERE NOT OVER
WHEN CONSTRUCTION FINISHED.

225
00:12:07,567 --> 00:12:10,500
LONDON IS CONSTANTLY
REBUILDING ITSELF.

226
00:12:10,533 --> 00:12:12,367
AND ITS SUBTERRANEAN
RAIL NETWORK,

227
00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:14,933
THE UNDERGROUND,
IS EVER-EXPANDING.

228
00:12:17,767 --> 00:12:20,300
TODAY, THE CONSTRUCTION
OF NEW TRAIN TUNNELS

229
00:12:20,333 --> 00:12:23,367
POSES A CONSTANT THREAT
TO BUILDINGS ON THE SURFACE.

230
00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:27,067
THE LAST THING YOU WANT
IS STRUCTURES ABOVEGROUND

231
00:12:27,100 --> 00:12:29,833
MOVING BECAUSE OF WHAT
YOU'RE DOING BELOWGROUND.

232
00:12:29,867 --> 00:12:31,633
Narrator:
GEOFF MORRIS IS ONE

233
00:12:31,667 --> 00:12:33,800
OF THE LONDON UNDERGROUND'S
ENGINEERS.

234
00:12:33,833 --> 00:12:37,300
HE KNOWS JUST HOW DANGEROUS
TUNNELING CAN BE.

235
00:12:37,333 --> 00:12:39,767
AND THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO
WOULD BE COLLAPSE.

236
00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:41,733
Narrator: IN 1994,

237
00:12:41,767 --> 00:12:44,533
THE LONDON UNDERGROUND
EXCAVATED NEW TRAIN TUNNELS

238
00:12:44,567 --> 00:12:49,067
JUST 90 FEET
FROM THE BASE OF BIG BEN.

239
00:12:49,067 --> 00:12:51,933
AS TUNNELING PROGRESSED,
ENGINEERS WERE ALARMED

240
00:12:51,967 --> 00:12:54,833
TO DETECT MOVEMENT
IN THE BUILDINGS ABOVE.

241
00:12:57,767 --> 00:13:00,333
THERE WAS A PROBLEM
WITH THE GROUND MOVEMENT

242
00:13:00,367 --> 00:13:04,133
BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDATIONS
BECOMING DESTABILIZED.

243
00:13:04,167 --> 00:13:06,300
Narrator:
THE ENGINEERS FACED A CHALLENGE.

244
00:13:06,333 --> 00:13:10,367
THEY NEEDED TO STOP BIG BEN'S
CLOCK TOWER FROM TILTING, FAST,

245
00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,533
BUT THE PROBLEM
WAS BIGGER THAN THEY REALIZED.

246
00:13:13,567 --> 00:13:16,900
THE EARTH UNDER BIG BEN
IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE.

247
00:13:16,933 --> 00:13:18,233
Morris:
IF YOU'VE BEEN TO THE SEASIDE

248
00:13:18,267 --> 00:13:19,567
AND YOU TRY AND DIG A HOLE,

249
00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:21,500
IT JUST INSTANTLY FILLS UP
WITH WATER

250
00:13:21,533 --> 00:13:23,267
AND GROWS WIDER INSTEAD
OF DEEPER,

251
00:13:23,300 --> 00:13:25,067
THEN THAT IS TYPICAL
OF THE GRAVEL

252
00:13:25,100 --> 00:13:28,967
AND THE GROUND CONDITIONS
AT WESTMINSTER.

253
00:13:29,067 --> 00:13:32,067
YOU NEED SOMETHING
THAT'S GONNA WORK VERY QUICKLY.

254
00:13:35,133 --> 00:13:38,200
Narrator: AS THE 24-FOOT-WIDE
TRAIN TUNNELS RAN CLOSE

255
00:13:38,233 --> 00:13:40,867
TO BIG BEN'S FOUNDATIONS...

256
00:13:40,900 --> 00:13:44,400
THE TOWER BEGAN TO LEAN.

257
00:13:44,433 --> 00:13:48,467
TO KEEP IT STABLE,
ENGINEERS DUG A DEEP SHAFT...

258
00:13:51,067 --> 00:13:52,967
...AND PUSHED LONG STEEL TUBES

259
00:13:53,067 --> 00:13:56,133
INTO THE GROUND
RIGHT BENEATH BIG BEN.

260
00:13:56,167 --> 00:14:00,067
EACH TUBE HAD 600 VALVES

261
00:14:00,067 --> 00:14:02,833
SO WORKERS COULD PUMP IN
A CONCRETE MIXTURE

262
00:14:02,867 --> 00:14:06,067
TO FILL THE CRACKS IN THE GROUND
WITH PRECISION.

263
00:14:06,067 --> 00:14:08,300
AS THE ENGINEERS
DUG THE TUNNELS,

264
00:14:08,333 --> 00:14:12,200
THEY INJECTED OVER 220 TONS
OF CONCRETE MIXTURE,

265
00:14:12,233 --> 00:14:14,200
SUCCESSFULLY STOPPING BIG BEN

266
00:14:14,233 --> 00:14:17,100
FROM BECOMING
A LEANING TOWER OF PISA.

267
00:14:19,533 --> 00:14:21,433
Morris:
ONCE THEY STABILIZED THE GROUND,

268
00:14:21,467 --> 00:14:24,367
IT WOULD'VE STOPPED
ANY POTENTIAL FURTHER MOVEMENT

269
00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:25,733
ON THE CLOCK TOWER.

270
00:14:25,767 --> 00:14:29,267
ONE OF THE KEY INGREDIENTS
INTO SUCCESSFUL TUNNELING.

271
00:14:29,300 --> 00:14:31,567
Narrator:
THIS INGENIOUS INTERVENTION

272
00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:36,633
KEPT THE TOWER STANDING UPRIGHT
AND THE BELLS RINGING ON TIME.

273
00:14:36,667 --> 00:14:38,700
[ BELLS TOLLING ]

274
00:14:41,267 --> 00:14:43,267
EXPERTS
MAY HAVE SAVED PARLIAMENT

275
00:14:43,300 --> 00:14:46,633
FROM DANGERS BELOWGROUND,
BUT NOW A BIGGER PROBLEM

276
00:14:46,667 --> 00:14:48,633
THREATENS IT FROM ABOVE.

277
00:14:48,667 --> 00:14:52,633
AFTER 160 YEARS COVERING
THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,

278
00:14:52,667 --> 00:14:54,800
THE ROOF IS FAILING.

279
00:14:54,833 --> 00:14:57,900
WORK TO RESTORE IT GOES ON
DAY AND NIGHT.

280
00:15:00,300 --> 00:15:02,500
NO INSTRUCTIONS
FOR BUILDING THIS ROOF

281
00:15:02,533 --> 00:15:05,900
SURVIVE FROM VICTORIAN TIMES.

282
00:15:05,933 --> 00:15:07,900
AS ENGINEERS DISMANTLE

283
00:15:07,933 --> 00:15:11,133
THE 65,000-SQUARE-FOOT
ROOF STRUCTURE,

284
00:15:11,167 --> 00:15:16,400
THEY'RE UNCOVERING THE SECRETS
OF ITS INTRICATE DESIGN.

285
00:15:16,433 --> 00:15:19,767
ELTON BILTON IS IN CHARGE
OF THE OPERATION.

286
00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,333
*

287
00:15:22,367 --> 00:15:23,833
HOW'S THAT LOOKING?
ALL RIGHT?

288
00:15:23,867 --> 00:15:26,267
ELTON AND HIS TEAM
HAVE TO REMOVE

289
00:15:26,300 --> 00:15:28,700
AND REPAIR EVERY SINGLE TILE.

290
00:15:28,733 --> 00:15:32,833
WE'RE BUSY STRIPPING THE ROOF,
TAKING ALL THE OLD TILES OFF.

291
00:15:32,867 --> 00:15:35,367
THESE OLD TILES
THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE ROOF

292
00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:37,967
FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS,

293
00:15:38,067 --> 00:15:41,667
THEY ARE DAMAGED
AND IN A BAD STATE.

294
00:15:43,933 --> 00:15:45,833
Narrator:
AFTER SURVIVING LONDON'S WEATHER

295
00:15:45,867 --> 00:15:50,733
FOR AN INCREDIBLE 160 YEARS,
RESTORATION IS NOW CRITICAL.

296
00:15:53,067 --> 00:15:55,333
IT'S A DANGEROUS UNDERTAKING.

297
00:15:55,367 --> 00:15:58,767
Bilton: EACH TILE WEIGHS
BETWEEN 40 AND 50 KILOGRAMS.

298
00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:02,100
YOU WOULDN'T WANT A TILE
LIKE THAT FALLING ON YOUR HEAD.

299
00:16:02,133 --> 00:16:05,500
THEY'VE GOT SHARP EDGES,
AND THEY'RE VERY HEAVY.

300
00:16:05,533 --> 00:16:07,167
Narrator:
ELTON REMOVES THE TILES

301
00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:09,900
SO HE CAN SEND THEM AWAY
FOR REPAIRS.

302
00:16:12,167 --> 00:16:16,967
THEY MAY LOOK THE SAME,
BUT EVERY SINGLE TILE IS UNIQUE.

303
00:16:17,067 --> 00:16:18,833
PUTTING THE REPAIRED TILES BACK

304
00:16:18,867 --> 00:16:20,933
WILL BE AN ENORMOUS
JIGSAW PUZZLE.

305
00:16:20,967 --> 00:16:23,233
Bilton: BEFORE ANYTHING
GETS REMOVED FROM THE ROOF,

306
00:16:23,267 --> 00:16:25,300
EACH AND EVERY COMPONENT
HAS A UNIQUE NUMBER.

307
00:16:25,333 --> 00:16:26,467
OTHERWISE, IT WOULD BE CHAOS,

308
00:16:26,500 --> 00:16:28,167
AND WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE
TO PUT THINGS.

309
00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:32,233
Narrator: USING THIS PROCESS,
ONCE THE TILES ARE RESTORED,

310
00:16:32,267 --> 00:16:35,233
ELTON WILL REASSEMBLE
THE 7,000-TILE ROOF

311
00:16:35,267 --> 00:16:37,533
EXACTLY
AS THE VICTORIANS INTENDED.

312
00:16:37,567 --> 00:16:38,933
OKAY, THAT TILE'S NOW READY

313
00:16:38,967 --> 00:16:41,233
TO GO BACK TO THE FACTORY
FOR RESTORATION.

314
00:16:43,367 --> 00:16:45,067
Narrator:
WHY DID THE VICTORIANS

315
00:16:45,067 --> 00:16:47,833
BUILD THE ROOF
WITH SUCH A COMPLEX DESIGN?

316
00:16:47,867 --> 00:16:51,167
*

317
00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,833
THE ANSWER LIES
IN A 19th-CENTURY DISASTER.

318
00:16:55,867 --> 00:16:59,200
AT THIS TRAINING CENTER
50 MILES FROM PARLIAMENT,

319
00:16:59,233 --> 00:17:01,700
FIREFIGHTERS
THINK THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

320
00:17:01,733 --> 00:17:03,933
IS EVERYBODY FIT AND WELL
TO TAKE PART

321
00:17:03,967 --> 00:17:05,400
IN THIS
LIVE-FIRE EXERCISE?

322
00:17:05,433 --> 00:17:06,867
I NEED A POSITIVE RESPONSE
FROM YOU ALL.

323
00:17:06,900 --> 00:17:08,067
All: YES, SIR.

324
00:17:08,067 --> 00:17:09,800
Narrator: THE ORIGINAL
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

325
00:17:09,833 --> 00:17:11,400
WERE A COLLECTION
OF MEDIEVAL BUILDINGS

326
00:17:11,433 --> 00:17:15,767
THAT HAD STOOD ON THE THAMES
FOR ALMOST 1,000 YEARS.

327
00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:19,400
BUT IN 1834,
A FIRE BROKE OUT IN PARLIAMENT

328
00:17:19,433 --> 00:17:22,967
THAT CAUSED DESTRUCTION
ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE.

329
00:17:23,067 --> 00:17:25,367
THE SUDDEN FIREBALL
WAS SO BRIGHT,

330
00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,433
IT WAS SEEN 25 MILES AWAY.

331
00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:33,433
THE BIG MYSTERY --

332
00:17:33,467 --> 00:17:36,967
WHAT CAUSED
SUCH A DEVASTATING EXPLOSION?

333
00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,767
*

334
00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:43,833
[ FIRE CRACKLING ]

335
00:17:46,133 --> 00:17:48,133
Narrator: IN LONDON,

336
00:17:48,167 --> 00:17:51,067
PAULINE HOLDEN
TRAINS FIREFIGHTERS.

337
00:17:51,100 --> 00:17:55,233
SHE THINKS THE 1834 EXPLOSION
AT THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

338
00:17:55,267 --> 00:17:58,833
WAS TRIGGERED BY A DEADLY
PHENOMENON CALLED A FLASHOVER.

339
00:17:58,867 --> 00:18:02,700
A FLASHOVER CAN OCCUR EXTREMELY
QUICKLY -- WITHIN MINUTES.

340
00:18:02,733 --> 00:18:04,900
Narrator: AS FIRE HEATS

341
00:18:04,933 --> 00:18:07,067
THE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS
IN A ROOM,

342
00:18:07,067 --> 00:18:09,267
THEY RELEASE FLAMMABLE GASES.

343
00:18:09,300 --> 00:18:13,967
IF THESE GASES ARE TRAPPED
IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE...

344
00:18:14,067 --> 00:18:16,333
WHEN THE FIRE REACHES
A CRITICAL TEMPERATURE,

345
00:18:16,367 --> 00:18:19,500
THERE'S ONE POSSIBLE OUTCOME.

346
00:18:19,533 --> 00:18:22,700
FIRE MAKES THE GASES
EXPLODE INTO A FIREBALL.

347
00:18:26,533 --> 00:18:29,067
Narrator:
THIS IS A FLASHOVER.

348
00:18:29,100 --> 00:18:31,833
BACK IN 1834,

349
00:18:31,867 --> 00:18:35,700
PARLIAMENT'S BUILDINGS
WERE MADE FROM STONE.

350
00:18:35,733 --> 00:18:39,800
BUT THE ROOFS
WERE MADE FROM WOOD.

351
00:18:39,833 --> 00:18:42,700
THE FLASHOVER
IGNITED THE WOODEN ROOFS,

352
00:18:42,733 --> 00:18:46,467
SPREADING THE BLAZE
WITH ASTONISHING SPEED.

353
00:18:46,500 --> 00:18:49,633
FIREFIGHTERS BATTLED IN VAIN.

354
00:18:49,667 --> 00:18:53,067
THE FIRE DESTROYED
THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

355
00:18:53,100 --> 00:18:56,733
BRITAIN'S GOVERNMENT
NEEDED A NEW HEADQUARTERS.

356
00:18:56,767 --> 00:19:00,767
AND THIS TIME,
IT WOULD BE FIREPROOF.

357
00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,833
*

358
00:19:05,167 --> 00:19:07,900
INSIDE ANOTHER SECTION
OF THE ROOF'S STRUCTURE,

359
00:19:07,933 --> 00:19:10,900
PALACE ARCHITECT ADAM WATROBSKI
IS INVESTIGATING

360
00:19:10,933 --> 00:19:13,833
HOW THE VICTORIANS
ENSURED THEIR PARLIAMENT

361
00:19:13,867 --> 00:19:15,900
WOULD NEVER BURN TO THE GROUND.

362
00:19:17,967 --> 00:19:20,767
Watrobski:
AFTER THE GREAT FIRE OF 1834,

363
00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,467
ONE OF THE PRIORITIES
IN REBUILDING

364
00:19:23,500 --> 00:19:25,100
THE NEW PALACE OF WESTMINSTER

365
00:19:25,133 --> 00:19:27,400
WAS TO MAKE IT
AS FIREPROOF AS POSSIBLE.

366
00:19:27,433 --> 00:19:31,400
AND THIS REMARKABLE ROOF IS PART
OF THAT FIREPROOFING EXERCISE.

367
00:19:31,433 --> 00:19:33,367
Narrator: THE VICTORIAN
ENGINEERS TOOK ADVANTAGE

368
00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:35,433
OF A NEW BUILDING MATERIAL.

369
00:19:35,467 --> 00:19:39,867
THE FRAME OF THE ROOF AND TILES
ARE ALL MADE FROM CAST IRON.

370
00:19:39,900 --> 00:19:43,067
CAST IRON HAD NEVER BEEN USED
ON THIS SCALE BEFORE.

371
00:19:43,067 --> 00:19:46,533
Narrator: WITH A MELTING POINT
OF 2,300 DEGREES,

372
00:19:46,567 --> 00:19:48,767
THIS CAST-IRON ROOF
WOULD HOLD UP

373
00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,100
WHEN A TIMBER ROOF
WOULD JUST BURN.

374
00:19:51,133 --> 00:19:53,533
THE CAST-IRON ROOF
USED CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY,

375
00:19:53,567 --> 00:19:56,233
BOTH IN TERMS OF THE MATERIALS
AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION,

376
00:19:56,267 --> 00:19:59,133
WITH, OF COURSE, NOT A COMPUTER
IN SIGHT WHEN IT WAS DESIGNED,

377
00:19:59,167 --> 00:20:01,833
SO THIS WAS A HUGE EXPERIMENT.

378
00:20:01,867 --> 00:20:04,733
Narrator: PULLING THIS OFF
WAS A GREAT CHALLENGE.

379
00:20:04,767 --> 00:20:08,433
CAST IRON IS EXTREMELY HEAVY,
SO HOW DID THE VICTORIANS

380
00:20:08,467 --> 00:20:12,067
DESIGN THIS ROOF SO THAT IT
WOULDN'T COLLAPSE IN ON ITSELF?

381
00:20:13,933 --> 00:20:18,400
THE SECRET LIES HIDDEN INSIDE.

382
00:20:18,433 --> 00:20:22,767
THE 7,000 CAST-IRON TILES
THAT COVER THE ENTIRE PALACE

383
00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:27,700
ADD OVER 386 TONS
TO THE WEIGHT OF THE ROOF.

384
00:20:27,733 --> 00:20:30,300
BUT EACH TILE HAS
A CLEVER DESIGN,

385
00:20:30,333 --> 00:20:32,767
WHICH ALLOWS THEM
TO BECOME EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG

386
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,033
AS THEY LOCK RIGIDLY TOGETHER.

387
00:20:39,367 --> 00:20:42,067
UNDERNEATH, A LIGHTWEIGHT
SKELETON OF TRUSSES

388
00:20:42,100 --> 00:20:44,800
IS ENOUGH
TO HOLD THE ROOF ALOFT.

389
00:20:44,833 --> 00:20:47,333
THE TRUSSES ADD VERY LITTLE
ADDITIONAL PRESSURE

390
00:20:47,367 --> 00:20:50,567
TO THE WALLS BELOW,
CREATING THIS UNIQUE SYSTEM

391
00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:54,033
THAT STILL PROTECTS THE HOUSES
OF PARLIAMENT TO THIS DAY.

392
00:20:54,067 --> 00:20:57,100
*

393
00:21:00,167 --> 00:21:03,200
IN THESE VAST WORKSHOPS
IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE,

394
00:21:03,233 --> 00:21:05,967
WORKERS ARE PREPARING THE IRON
TILES THAT HAVE COME OFF

395
00:21:06,067 --> 00:21:07,800
PARLIAMENT'S ROOF
FOR RESTORATION.

396
00:21:07,833 --> 00:21:11,233
THE ORIGINAL ENGINEERS
COULD NEVER HAVE PREDICTED

397
00:21:11,267 --> 00:21:12,967
HOW A CENTURY
OF LONDON'S WEATHER

398
00:21:13,067 --> 00:21:15,367
WOULD AFFECT THIS UNIQUE ROOF.

399
00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,767
WORKERS BLAST THE TILES
WITH PARTICLES OF STEEL,

400
00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:20,367
REMOVING THE RUST AND GRIME

401
00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,433
TO REVEAL ANY HOLES
OR FRACTURES IN THE IRON.

402
00:21:25,300 --> 00:21:26,833
REPAIRING THIS DAMAGE IS

403
00:21:26,867 --> 00:21:30,833
THE MOST IMPORTANT STAGE
OF THE RESTORATION.

404
00:21:30,867 --> 00:21:33,933
IT'S A HIGHLY SPECIALIZED JOB.

405
00:21:40,100 --> 00:21:41,467
DANNY WHITWORTH IS IN CHARGE

406
00:21:41,500 --> 00:21:44,067
OF FIXING
PARLIAMENT'S ROOF TILES.

407
00:21:52,133 --> 00:21:55,100
DANNY APPLIES BRONZE
AT OVER 1,500 DEGREES

408
00:21:55,133 --> 00:21:57,133
INTO THE DEFECTS IN THE TILE.

409
00:21:57,167 --> 00:21:59,633
THIS RESTORES
THE TILE'S STRENGTH.

410
00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:06,600
BUT APPLYING TOO MUCH HEAT COULD
CAUSE THE BRITTLE IRON TO CRACK.

411
00:22:22,367 --> 00:22:24,467
WITH ONE SLIP OF THE HAND,

412
00:22:24,500 --> 00:22:27,733
DANNY COULD RUIN
THE 160-YEAR-OLD TILE.

413
00:22:43,167 --> 00:22:46,200
*

414
00:22:54,433 --> 00:22:57,400
ONCE REPAIRED,
THE TILES ARE RETURNED

415
00:22:57,433 --> 00:22:59,067
TO THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,

416
00:22:59,067 --> 00:23:01,667
READY FOR ELTON
TO INSTALL ON THE ROOF.

417
00:23:01,700 --> 00:23:04,733
*

418
00:23:06,867 --> 00:23:08,467
THAT'S A PREFECT FIT.

419
00:23:08,500 --> 00:23:12,200
IF THEY ALL FIT IN LIKE THAT,
WE'D BE VERY HAPPY.

420
00:23:12,233 --> 00:23:15,333
THIS ROOF SHOULD LAST
FOR ANOTHER 80 TO 100 YEARS.

421
00:23:15,367 --> 00:23:17,600
THANKS TO ELTON'S TEAM,

422
00:23:17,633 --> 00:23:20,467
ANOTHER SECTION
OF THE ROOF IS COMPLETE.

423
00:23:20,500 --> 00:23:24,200
JOB WELL DONE, I'D SAY.

424
00:23:24,233 --> 00:23:26,433
Narrator:
THE PALACE'S ALL-IRON ROOF

425
00:23:26,467 --> 00:23:30,067
WAS A UNIQUE
ENGINEERING SOLUTION.

426
00:23:30,067 --> 00:23:33,067
BUT ITS VICTORIAN CREATORS
WANTED TO PUSH PARLIAMENT

427
00:23:33,067 --> 00:23:35,833
TO RECORD-BREAKING HEIGHTS.

428
00:23:35,867 --> 00:23:40,200
TO DO THIS, THEY HAD TO INVENT
A RADICAL NEW WAY OF BUILDING

429
00:23:40,233 --> 00:23:43,600
AND TAKE ON
THE RIVER THAMES ITSELF.

430
00:23:46,767 --> 00:23:49,800
*

431
00:23:51,067 --> 00:23:52,967
Narrator:
BRITAIN'S HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,

432
00:23:53,067 --> 00:23:56,067
A BUILDING LIGHT-YEARS
AHEAD OF ITS TIME.

433
00:23:56,100 --> 00:23:58,667
TODAY, EXPERTS ARE DECIPHERING

434
00:23:58,700 --> 00:24:02,667
THE MYSTERIES
OF ITS VICTORIAN DESIGN.

435
00:24:02,700 --> 00:24:07,433
AT ITS SOUTHERN END SOARS THE
EXTRAORDINARY VICTORIA TOWER.

436
00:24:07,467 --> 00:24:10,500
IT STANDS 320 FEET HIGH,

437
00:24:10,533 --> 00:24:13,200
EVEN TALLER
THAN BIG BEN'S CLOCK TOWER.

438
00:24:13,233 --> 00:24:18,067
YET AT ITS BASE CONTAINS A VAST,
OPEN, CEREMONIAL ENTRANCE.

439
00:24:19,900 --> 00:24:24,700
HOW DID ENGINEERS BUILD THIS
320-FOOT-HIGH MEGA STRUCTURE

440
00:24:24,733 --> 00:24:30,233
AND SUPPORT ITS NINE FLOORS
ABOVE THIS EMPTY SPACE?

441
00:24:30,267 --> 00:24:33,233
*

442
00:24:33,267 --> 00:24:36,867
THE TRADITIONAL BRICKS
AND STONES HIDE A SECRET --

443
00:24:36,900 --> 00:24:40,400
AN IMMENSE IRON SKELETON.

444
00:24:40,433 --> 00:24:45,200
A NETWORK OF TAPERING COLUMNS,
EACH 200 FEET TALL,

445
00:24:45,233 --> 00:24:48,600
SUPPORTS THE WEIGHT
OF THE BUILDING'S FLOORS.

446
00:24:51,300 --> 00:24:53,400
THE COLUMNS CHANNEL
THIS IMMENSE LOAD

447
00:24:53,433 --> 00:24:57,067
DOWN TO A BASE MADE
FROM 13-TON GIRDERS.

448
00:24:57,100 --> 00:25:01,433
IT TRANSFERS THE WEIGHT OF THE
FLOORS ONTO FOUR EXTERNAL WALLS,

449
00:25:01,467 --> 00:25:04,733
LEAVING AN IMMENSE
STONE VAULT BELOW.

450
00:25:04,767 --> 00:25:09,300
THE VICTORIA TOWER'S ENGINEERING
WAS DECADES AHEAD OF ITS TIME.

451
00:25:12,700 --> 00:25:15,067
THIS TOWER WAS THE INSPIRATION

452
00:25:15,067 --> 00:25:18,833
FOR ONE OF AMERICA'S
EARLIEST SKYSCRAPERS --

453
00:25:18,867 --> 00:25:21,733
THE WOOLWORTH BUILDING
IN NEW YORK.

454
00:25:21,767 --> 00:25:24,233
ITS IRON SKELETON
WAS A VITAL STEP

455
00:25:24,267 --> 00:25:26,567
TOWARDS DEVELOPING
STEEL-FRAME SKYSCRAPERS

456
00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:30,433
IN THE 20th CENTURY,
WHICH WENT ON TO DOMINATE

457
00:25:30,467 --> 00:25:33,600
NOT ONLY NEW YORK'S
ICONIC SKYLINE,

458
00:25:33,633 --> 00:25:37,400
BUT CITIES ACROSS THE WORLD.

459
00:25:37,433 --> 00:25:42,067
THE VICTORIANS HAD BUILT A
PRECURSOR TO MODERN SKYSCRAPERS,

460
00:25:42,067 --> 00:25:43,867
BUT WHY DID THEY NEED
TO CONSTRUCT

461
00:25:43,900 --> 00:25:46,067
SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY STRUCTURE?

462
00:25:46,067 --> 00:25:49,067
*

463
00:25:52,067 --> 00:25:55,200
DEEP INSIDE THE VICTORIA TOWER
HOLDS PARLIAMENT'S

464
00:25:55,233 --> 00:25:59,567
MOST PRECIOUS TREASURES, JUST AS
IT DID WHEN IT WAS BUILT.

465
00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:03,533
AROUND US, WE CAN SEE
64,000 ACTS OF PARLIAMENT,

466
00:26:03,567 --> 00:26:07,967
DATING BACK TO THE 15th CENTURY,
STORED IN PARCHMENT SCROLLS,

467
00:26:08,067 --> 00:26:10,433
ONE SCROLL PER ACT --

468
00:26:10,467 --> 00:26:12,633
ALL THE LAWS
THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED

469
00:26:12,667 --> 00:26:14,567
BY PARLIAMENT
OVER THE CENTURIES.

470
00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:17,367
Narrator:
ARCHIVIST CAROLINE SHENTON

471
00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,733
GUARDS THESE PRICELESS LAWS.

472
00:26:19,767 --> 00:26:22,933
IT'S AN AMAZING SPACE
AND AIR-CONDITIONED, TOO --

473
00:26:22,967 --> 00:26:26,333
16 DEGREES CENTIGRADE
AND 55% HUMIDITY,

474
00:26:26,367 --> 00:26:29,500
WHICH HELPS TO KEEP
ALL THESE INCREDIBLE SCROLLS

475
00:26:29,533 --> 00:26:32,767
AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE
TO PRESERVE THEM FOR THE FUTURE.

476
00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:36,167
Narrator: STORING ALL OF
PARLIAMENT'S DOCUMENTS AND LAWS

477
00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:40,067
PUSH THE VICTORIA TOWER UP
TO ITS RECORD-BREAKING HEIGHT.

478
00:26:42,700 --> 00:26:45,500
BUT BUILDING BIG
WAS A HUGE CHALLENGE.

479
00:26:45,533 --> 00:26:49,933
BACK IN 1834, AS TODAY,
ROADS AND HISTORIC BUILDINGS

480
00:26:49,967 --> 00:26:52,267
SURROUNDED THE SITE
ON THREE SIDES.

481
00:26:52,300 --> 00:26:55,067
THERE WAS NO SPACE
FOR THE SCAFFOLDING OR CRANES

482
00:26:55,067 --> 00:26:57,267
THAT COULD CREATE
SUCH A VAST TOWER.

483
00:26:57,300 --> 00:27:01,567
THE VICTORIANS NEEDED TO INVENT
A RADICALLY NEW WAY OF BUILDING.

484
00:27:04,067 --> 00:27:07,100
ENGINEERS HIT
ON AN INGENIOUS SOLUTION...

485
00:27:09,533 --> 00:27:11,800
...TO USE A GIANT,
RISING PLATFORM

486
00:27:11,833 --> 00:27:15,800
AND BUILD THE ENTIRE TOWER
FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

487
00:27:15,833 --> 00:27:19,333
EIGHT MEN HOISTED UP
THE 44-TON PLATFORM,

488
00:27:19,367 --> 00:27:22,400
CRANKING THE GEARS
IN 6-FOOT BURSTS.

489
00:27:26,167 --> 00:27:29,800
ON TOP, A CRANE LIFTED
THE 4 TONS OF STONES

490
00:27:29,833 --> 00:27:31,900
FROM THE GROUND TO THE PLATFORM.

491
00:27:31,933 --> 00:27:33,900
POWERED BY A STEAM ENGINE,

492
00:27:33,933 --> 00:27:37,400
IT COULD DELIVER
10 LOADS AN HOUR.

493
00:27:37,433 --> 00:27:39,733
TWO MORE CRANES
PLACED THE HEAVY STONES

494
00:27:39,767 --> 00:27:42,133
IN POSITION ON THE TOWER WALLS.

495
00:27:42,167 --> 00:27:44,133
TO OBSERVERS, THE TOWER APPEARED

496
00:27:44,167 --> 00:27:48,067
TO GROW EFFORTLESSLY
UNDER ITS OWN STEAM.

497
00:27:48,100 --> 00:27:50,867
THIS INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION
TECHNIQUE SOLVED

498
00:27:50,900 --> 00:27:53,700
THE ENGINEERS' PROBLEM
ON ONE SIDE OF THE PALACE.

499
00:27:53,733 --> 00:27:55,800
BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE,
THEY HAD TO CONTEND

500
00:27:55,833 --> 00:27:59,067
WITH AN EVEN GREATER
ADVERSARY --

501
00:27:59,100 --> 00:28:02,333
THE RIVER THAMES.

502
00:28:02,367 --> 00:28:05,267
AT PARLIAMENT'S RIVER WALL,

503
00:28:05,300 --> 00:28:08,900
WHERE THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
MEETS THE RIVER THAMES,

504
00:28:08,933 --> 00:28:12,300
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
ALISTAIR LENCZNER INVESTIGATES

505
00:28:12,333 --> 00:28:13,700
HOW THE VICTORIANS CREATED

506
00:28:13,733 --> 00:28:16,633
THE SPACE THEY NEEDED
FOR THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

507
00:28:16,667 --> 00:28:19,833
THEY WORKED OUT THAT THE SIZE
OF BUILDING THEY REALLY NEEDED

508
00:28:19,867 --> 00:28:23,733
WAS ACTUALLY A LOT LARGER THAN
THE SPACE THAT WAS AVAILABLE.

509
00:28:23,767 --> 00:28:26,467
Narrator:
WITH ROADS AND BUILDINGS
SURROUNDING THE SITE,

510
00:28:26,500 --> 00:28:30,233
PARLIAMENT'S DESIGNERS COULD
ONLY EXPAND IN ONE DIRECTION.

511
00:28:30,267 --> 00:28:34,467
SO, IF WE CONSIDER
THIS AREA HERE...

512
00:28:36,167 --> 00:28:38,800
IS THE FOUNDATION
OF THE NEW BUILDING DESIGN,

513
00:28:38,833 --> 00:28:44,133
BUT THIS LINE HERE IS THE LINE
OF THE RIVERBANK AT THE TIME.

514
00:28:44,167 --> 00:28:46,933
SO WE CAN SEE THAT ALL THIS PART
OF THE BUILDING

515
00:28:46,967 --> 00:28:51,367
HAD TO BE BUILT OUT INTO
THE EXISTING TIDAL RIVER THAMES.

516
00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:54,333
Narrator: TO BUILD ON THIS LAND,
VICTORIAN ENGINEERS

517
00:28:54,367 --> 00:28:56,433
NEEDED TO RECLAIM IT
FROM THE RIVER.

518
00:28:56,467 --> 00:28:58,300
IT WAS A HUGE CHALLENGE
THAT CALLED

519
00:28:58,333 --> 00:29:01,233
FOR A TRAILBLAZING
CONSTRUCTION PLAN.

520
00:29:02,900 --> 00:29:05,933
*

521
00:29:10,733 --> 00:29:13,167
Narrator: TO BUILD LONDON'S
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,

522
00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:16,400
ENGINEERS HAD TO RECLAIM LAND
FROM THE RIVER THAMES.

523
00:29:16,433 --> 00:29:19,267
FIRST, THEY TOOK TWIN ROWS
OF TIMBER PILES,

524
00:29:19,300 --> 00:29:23,067
EACH 36 FEET DEEP, AND DROVE
THEM INTO THE RIVERBED.

525
00:29:23,067 --> 00:29:24,933
THEN THEY FIXED SHEETS OF STEEL

526
00:29:24,967 --> 00:29:27,400
BETWEEN THE PILES
TO CREATE TWO BARRIERS.

527
00:29:27,433 --> 00:29:31,300
EACH BARRIER
WAS OVER 790 FEET LONG.

528
00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,167
THE ENGINEERS FILLED
THE SPACE WITH CLAY

529
00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:40,867
TO CREATE A WATERTIGHT WALL
CALLED A COFFERDAM.

530
00:29:44,433 --> 00:29:48,167
FINALLY, THEY DRAINED
THE TRAPPED RIVER WATER

531
00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:50,500
AND FILLED THE SPACE
WITH CONCRETE

532
00:29:50,533 --> 00:29:53,233
TO FORM THE FOUNDATIONS
OF PARLIAMENT.

533
00:29:55,433 --> 00:29:57,767
THE FINAL CHALLENGE WAS
TO REPLACE THE TEMPORARY

534
00:29:57,800 --> 00:29:59,733
COFFERDAM WITH SOMETHING
STRONG ENOUGH

535
00:29:59,767 --> 00:30:02,600
TO WITHSTAND THE MIGHTY THAMES.

536
00:30:02,633 --> 00:30:04,800
SO, ONCE THE COFFERDAM
HAD BEEN BUILT

537
00:30:04,833 --> 00:30:07,333
AND THEY'D CREATED
THE DRY SPACE BEHIND IT,

538
00:30:07,367 --> 00:30:09,067
THAT ALLOWED THEM
TO START CONSTRUCTION

539
00:30:09,100 --> 00:30:11,100
OF THE PERMANENT RIVER WALL.

540
00:30:11,133 --> 00:30:13,600
Narrator: THIS WALL NEEDS
TO PROTECT PARLIAMENT

541
00:30:13,633 --> 00:30:16,433
FROM THE EXTREME PRESSURES
OF THE RISING TIDE.

542
00:30:16,467 --> 00:30:18,967
THE SECRET TO THE STRENGTH
OF THE RIVER WALL

543
00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:20,500
LIES IN ITS SHAPE.

544
00:30:20,533 --> 00:30:24,167
AT HIGH TIDE, THE PRESSURE GETS
BIGGER THE LOWER YOU GET DOWN.

545
00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:27,100
TO RESIST THAT HIGHER PRESSURE
LOWER DOWN,

546
00:30:27,133 --> 00:30:29,033
THE RIVER WALL ITSELF
NEEDS TO GET WIDER

547
00:30:29,067 --> 00:30:33,733
AND MORE MASSIVE TO STAY STABLE
UNDER THE WATER PRESSURE.

548
00:30:33,767 --> 00:30:37,633
BEHIND ME, YOU CAN SEE THE SHAPE
WHICH TAPERS UPWARDS.

549
00:30:37,667 --> 00:30:40,067
Narrator:
TODAY, DAMS ALL OVER THE WORLD

550
00:30:40,100 --> 00:30:42,500
USE THIS SAME TAPER DESIGN.

551
00:30:42,533 --> 00:30:44,400
IT HAS KEPT
THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

552
00:30:44,433 --> 00:30:49,333
STANDING TALL IN THE RIVER
FOR OVER 160 YEARS.

553
00:30:49,367 --> 00:30:52,433
BUT THESE STONES
AREN'T INVINCIBLE.

554
00:30:52,467 --> 00:30:56,400
ON THE ROOFTOP,
THE STONEWORK IS UNDER ATTACK.

555
00:30:56,433 --> 00:30:59,500
ON THE LORDS' ROOF,
ARCHITECT ADAM WATROBSKI

556
00:30:59,533 --> 00:31:03,200
INVESTIGATES THE FABRIC
OF THE BUILDING.

557
00:31:03,233 --> 00:31:05,600
Watrobski: THERE'S A GARGOYLE
UP THERE WITH A HEAD MISSING.

558
00:31:05,633 --> 00:31:09,133
THE STONE CORRODED SO MUCH THAT
THAT HEAD PROBABLY FELL OFF.

559
00:31:09,167 --> 00:31:11,667
Narrator: ENGINEERS
MUST CONSTANTLY MONITOR

560
00:31:11,700 --> 00:31:14,233
PARLIAMENT'S LIMESTONE EXTERIOR.

561
00:31:14,267 --> 00:31:17,733
THIS BLACK IS AN ACCUMULATION
OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

562
00:31:17,767 --> 00:31:20,800
PRODUCED BY COAL FIRES
AND BY FACTORIES

563
00:31:20,833 --> 00:31:22,633
DURING THE VICTORIAN ERA.

564
00:31:22,667 --> 00:31:24,067
Narrator:
THIS POLLUTION WILL HAVE

565
00:31:24,100 --> 00:31:26,567
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
ON THE BUILDING.

566
00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:28,567
Watrobski: THE POLLUTION
THAT YOU SEE ON THE SURFACE

567
00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:31,333
IS QUITE DAMAGING,
BECAUSE THE RAIN FALLS ON IT,

568
00:31:31,367 --> 00:31:34,700
AND THE BLACK,
WHICH IS CARBON, FORMS ACID,

569
00:31:34,733 --> 00:31:37,167
AND THE ACID
THEN CHANGES THE COMPOSITION

570
00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:42,433
OF THE STONE INTO THIS POWDER,
WHICH JUST SIMPLY DROPS OFF.

571
00:31:42,467 --> 00:31:44,600
Narrator:
ADAM'S TEAM MUST REPLACE

572
00:31:44,633 --> 00:31:48,767
THIS DETERIORATED STONEWORK
WITH NEW, MORE ROBUST LIMESTONE,

573
00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:51,900
A JOB THAT CONTINUES
ACROSS THE BUILDING.

574
00:31:51,933 --> 00:31:53,933
BUT POLLUTION
IS NOT THE ONLY THING

575
00:31:53,967 --> 00:31:57,533
THAT THREATENS
PARLIAMENT'S DELICATE STONE.

576
00:31:57,567 --> 00:32:00,367
THERE IS ONE EVER-PRESENT DANGER

577
00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:04,067
THAT ONLY PARLIAMENT'S
MOST UNUSUAL TEAM CAN TACKLE.

578
00:32:04,100 --> 00:32:05,733
[ BELL JINGLING ]

579
00:32:05,767 --> 00:32:07,200
Bigwood: I DO GET
A LOT OF FUNNY LOOKS,

580
00:32:07,233 --> 00:32:08,667
ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE PASS ME.

581
00:32:08,700 --> 00:32:10,933
A LOT OF THE TIME,
THEY LOOK BACK AT ME

582
00:32:10,967 --> 00:32:13,333
'CAUSE THEY DON'T BELIEVE
WHAT THEY'VE JUST SEEN.

583
00:32:13,367 --> 00:32:15,333
[ BELL JINGLING ]

584
00:32:15,367 --> 00:32:18,400
*

585
00:32:24,067 --> 00:32:26,067
Narrator: MARK BIGWOOD
AND HIS HAWK, ANGEL,

586
00:32:26,100 --> 00:32:28,900
PROTECT PARLIAMENT
FROM A SURPRISING THREAT --

587
00:32:28,933 --> 00:32:32,100
LONDON'S ARMY OF PIGEONS.

588
00:32:32,133 --> 00:32:33,533
[ PIGEON COOS ]

589
00:32:33,567 --> 00:32:37,067
ANGEL'S JOB IS TO KEEP
THE PIGEONS OFF THE BUILDING.

590
00:32:37,067 --> 00:32:40,233
PIGEONS' DROPPINGS
ARE VERY ACIDIC TO THE LIMESTONE

591
00:32:40,267 --> 00:32:41,633
THAT THE PALACE IS BUILT OF,

592
00:32:41,667 --> 00:32:43,733
AND IT WOULD CAUSE
AN AWFUL LOT OF DAMAGE

593
00:32:43,767 --> 00:32:46,967
TO THE STONEWORK,
SOME OF IT IRREVERSIBLE.

594
00:32:47,067 --> 00:32:48,733
Narrator:
WITHOUT THIS ESSENTIAL WORK,

595
00:32:48,767 --> 00:32:50,533
THE PIGEON DROPPINGS
COULD DESTROY

596
00:32:50,567 --> 00:32:54,700
THE PALACE'S
DELICATE LIMESTONE FACADE.

597
00:32:54,733 --> 00:32:56,233
[ BELL JINGLES ]

598
00:32:56,267 --> 00:32:59,433
THE AIM ISN'T
TO ACTUALLY CATCH THE PIGEONS.

599
00:32:59,467 --> 00:33:02,967
ANGEL'S PRESENCE HERE PROVIDES
ALL OF THE DETERRENT NEEDED.

600
00:33:03,067 --> 00:33:06,367
Bigwood: PIGEONS ARE NATURALLY
AFRAID OF BIRDS OF PREY.

601
00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:09,367
AND PIGEONS RECOGNIZE THE FACT
THAT HE'S A BIRD OF PREY,

602
00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:11,067
SO THEY ARE AFRAID OF IT.

603
00:33:11,100 --> 00:33:13,700
Narrator:
MARK AND ANGEL'S ROOFTOP PATROLS

604
00:33:13,733 --> 00:33:15,900
HAVE HAD A HUGE IMPACT.

605
00:33:15,933 --> 00:33:19,267
WHEN WE STARTED WORKING HERE
ABOUT 10, 15 YEARS AGO,

606
00:33:19,300 --> 00:33:22,433
THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,
40 PIGEONS

607
00:33:22,467 --> 00:33:25,267
THAT WERE PERMANENTLY ON SITE.

608
00:33:25,300 --> 00:33:27,433
THEY WERE ROOSTING
AND NESTING ON SITE.

609
00:33:27,467 --> 00:33:29,500
AND NOW THERE'S JUST
A COUPLE OF PIGEONS

610
00:33:29,533 --> 00:33:32,233
THAT WANDER IN DURING THE DAY.

611
00:33:32,267 --> 00:33:35,067
Narrator: MARK AND ANGEL'S
INVALUABLE WORK IS HELPING

612
00:33:35,100 --> 00:33:38,467
TO KEEP PARLIAMENT'S
STONEWORK PRISTINE

613
00:33:38,500 --> 00:33:41,933
160 YEARS AFTER IT WAS BUILT.

614
00:33:43,767 --> 00:33:46,267
TODAY, INVESTIGATORS
ARE UNLOCKING THE SECRETS

615
00:33:46,300 --> 00:33:50,933
HELD INSIDE
THIS EXTRAORDINARY BUILDING.

616
00:33:50,967 --> 00:33:55,933
THEY'RE FINDING SPACES THAT
APPEAR TO HAVE HIDDEN PURPOSES.

617
00:33:55,967 --> 00:33:58,967
COULD THIS VAST CAVITY
AT THE HEART OF THE BUILDING

618
00:33:59,067 --> 00:34:03,067
BE THE SECRET TO UNDERSTANDING
THESE HUGE TUNNEL SYSTEMS?

619
00:34:03,100 --> 00:34:06,067
*

620
00:34:07,700 --> 00:34:10,667
*

621
00:34:10,700 --> 00:34:13,967
Narrator:
LONDON'S HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,

622
00:34:14,067 --> 00:34:16,667
A VICTORIAN ENGINEERING MARVEL

623
00:34:16,700 --> 00:34:21,233
ENCASED IN A SPECTACULAR
GOTHIC SHELL.

624
00:34:21,267 --> 00:34:23,600
PARLIAMENT ISN'T JUST
A MONUMENT.

625
00:34:23,633 --> 00:34:26,267
IT'S A LIVING, WORKING BUILDING.

626
00:34:28,700 --> 00:34:31,500
THE VICTORIANS HAD TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE COULD WORK HERE

627
00:34:31,533 --> 00:34:35,433
DURING THE COLDEST
WINTER MONTHS.

628
00:34:35,467 --> 00:34:39,633
OPEN FIRES HEATED UP
ITS 1,000-PLUS ROOMS.

629
00:34:41,333 --> 00:34:46,967
SO HOW DID THEY STOP PARLIAMENT
FROM FILLING UP WITH SMOKE?

630
00:34:47,067 --> 00:34:51,233
AN AMAZING INNOVATION SITS RIGHT
AT THE HEART OF THE PALACE.

631
00:34:51,267 --> 00:34:55,233
THIS ELABORATE SPIRE IS,
IN FACT, A CHIMNEY

632
00:34:55,267 --> 00:34:59,267
THAT SITS ABOVE THE PALACE'S
BUSY CENTRAL LOBBY.

633
00:34:59,300 --> 00:35:02,067
WARM AIR
FROM THE ROOM BELOW ROSE UP

634
00:35:02,067 --> 00:35:04,767
THROUGH A HOLE
IN ITS DOMED ROOF.

635
00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:09,900
THIS CREATED AN UPWARDS CURRENT
THAT PUSHES SMOKE UP

636
00:35:09,933 --> 00:35:13,067
AND OUT OF THE GIGANTIC SPIRE
THROUGH 16 HOLES

637
00:35:13,100 --> 00:35:17,200
SPREAD ACROSS THE TOWER
AND 32 OPEN WINDOWS.

638
00:35:20,367 --> 00:35:22,467
THIS HIDDEN VENTILATION SYSTEM

639
00:35:22,500 --> 00:35:25,633
WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

640
00:35:25,667 --> 00:35:28,700
*

641
00:35:34,067 --> 00:35:36,067
TODAY, THIS CHIMNEY IS LOCKED UP

642
00:35:36,067 --> 00:35:39,167
AND KEPT SECRET FROM MOST
VISITORS TO PARLIAMENT.

643
00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:42,233
*

644
00:35:48,900 --> 00:35:52,067
ARCHITECT ADAM WATROBSKI
INVESTIGATES IF IT

645
00:35:52,067 --> 00:35:54,833
COULD REALLY HAVE WORKED
AS THE DESIGNERS HOPED.

646
00:35:54,867 --> 00:35:56,900
WE'RE DIRECTLY
OVER CENTRAL LOBBY,

647
00:35:56,933 --> 00:36:00,300
WHICH IS THE CROSSROADS
OF THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER.

648
00:36:00,333 --> 00:36:04,433
Narrator:
THIS LOCATION IS CRUCIAL
TO THE VICTORIAN CHIMNEY DESIGN.

649
00:36:04,467 --> 00:36:06,767
ADAM WANTS TO TEST
JUST HOW EFFICIENT

650
00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,467
THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WAS.

651
00:36:09,500 --> 00:36:12,200
YOU CAN FEEL
REALLY QUITE A STRONG UPDRAFT

652
00:36:12,233 --> 00:36:15,400
COMING FROM CENTRAL LOBBY
BELOW ME HERE.

653
00:36:15,433 --> 00:36:17,100
I'VE GOT THIS PIECE OF KIT HERE,

654
00:36:17,133 --> 00:36:20,733
WHICH, AS I STEP BACK,
WILL MEASURE THE AIR SPEED.

655
00:36:20,767 --> 00:36:22,867
IT'S VERY RAPIDLY RISING HERE.

656
00:36:22,900 --> 00:36:24,567
QUITE A HIGH SPEED.

657
00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:26,767
Narrator: THIS AIR CURRENT
IS STRONG ENOUGH

658
00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:29,267
TO PUSH SMOKE UP
AND OUT OF THE SPIRE.

659
00:36:29,300 --> 00:36:32,667
IT'S EVEN FASTER THAN MODERN
AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS.

660
00:36:32,700 --> 00:36:35,467
THIS PART OF THE HISTORICAL
VENTILATION SYSTEM

661
00:36:35,500 --> 00:36:39,200
WOULD'VE REALLY WORKED
QUITE WELL.

662
00:36:39,233 --> 00:36:41,533
Narrator: CLEAN AIR FLOWED IN
THROUGH THE TOPS

663
00:36:41,567 --> 00:36:45,867
OF THE TALLEST TOWERS TO AVOID
THE POLLUTION OF THE CITY.

664
00:36:45,900 --> 00:36:50,200
GIANT, 10-FOOT FANS DREW
FRESH AIR THROUGH HUGE TUNNELS

665
00:36:50,233 --> 00:36:52,933
IN THE BASEMENT AND PUMPED IT

666
00:36:52,967 --> 00:36:56,400
TO HUNDREDS OF ROOMS
ACROSS THE PALACE.

667
00:36:56,433 --> 00:37:00,700
BELOW THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
A GAUZE FILTER PURIFIED THE AIR,

668
00:37:00,733 --> 00:37:04,867
A WATER SPRAY MOISTENED IT,
AND HOT COILS MADE IT WARM

669
00:37:04,900 --> 00:37:07,933
BEFORE RELEASING IT
INTO THE CHAMBER.

670
00:37:07,967 --> 00:37:10,400
OLD AIR RUSHED OUT
THROUGH THE CEILINGS

671
00:37:10,433 --> 00:37:12,400
AND FUNNELED THROUGH THE SPIRE.

672
00:37:12,433 --> 00:37:15,067
HERE, THE AIR RISING
FROM THE CENTRAL LOBBY

673
00:37:15,067 --> 00:37:17,233
LIFTED IT FROM THE BUILDING.

674
00:37:20,600 --> 00:37:23,900
TODAY, THE HUGE HEATING
AND VENTILATION TUNNELS

675
00:37:23,933 --> 00:37:25,800
IN THE BUILDING
HAVE BEEN REPURPOSED

676
00:37:25,833 --> 00:37:28,767
AND ARE EQUIPPED
WITH MODERN UTILITIES.

677
00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:30,733
BUT ADAM STILL FINDS TRACES

678
00:37:30,767 --> 00:37:33,967
OF THIS PIONEERING SYSTEM
THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.

679
00:37:36,967 --> 00:37:40,067
THIS IS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL
VENTILATION HATCHES,

680
00:37:40,067 --> 00:37:42,533
WHICH WERE CONTROLLED
BY AN ARMY OF PEOPLE

681
00:37:42,567 --> 00:37:44,200
IN THESE UNDERGROUND TUNNELS.

682
00:37:44,233 --> 00:37:47,933
AND THIS WAS USED TO ALLOW
THE FRESH AIR INTO THE TUNNELS

683
00:37:47,967 --> 00:37:49,600
AND TO BE SUBSEQUENTLY WARMED

684
00:37:49,633 --> 00:37:53,400
AND DISTRIBUTED
THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.

685
00:37:53,433 --> 00:37:55,900
Narrator:
THIS VENTILATION SYSTEM EVOLVED

686
00:37:55,933 --> 00:37:58,500
AS TIME
AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRESSED,

687
00:37:58,533 --> 00:38:02,533
SOMETIMES INVOLVING
SOME BIZARRE GADGETS.

688
00:38:02,567 --> 00:38:06,633
WELL, THIS IS THE PERISCOPE,
WHICH WAS INCORPORATED

689
00:38:06,667 --> 00:38:10,633
IN THE POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION
OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

690
00:38:10,667 --> 00:38:12,800
Narrator: THIS PIECE
OF SUBMARINE TECHNOLOGY

691
00:38:12,833 --> 00:38:14,667
HAD A UNIQUE USE.

692
00:38:14,700 --> 00:38:16,567
Watrobski:
AND IF YOU LOOK THROUGH IT,

693
00:38:16,600 --> 00:38:20,167
YOU CAN SEE QUITE CLEARLY
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THERE.

694
00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:22,300
I CAN SEE THE SPEAKER'S CHAIR,

695
00:38:22,333 --> 00:38:25,833
AND I CAN SEE THE BENCHES
AT THE SIDE.

696
00:38:25,867 --> 00:38:28,433
Narrator: WHOEVER SAT HERE
WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTROL

697
00:38:28,467 --> 00:38:30,533
THE BUILDING'S AIR-CONDITIONING.

698
00:38:30,567 --> 00:38:34,533
Watrobski: THE IDEA OF
A PERISCOPE IS A FABULOUS IDEA,

699
00:38:34,567 --> 00:38:37,300
SO THAT WHOEVER WAS CONTROLLING
THE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM HERE

700
00:38:37,333 --> 00:38:39,967
COULD ACTUALLY SEE, LIVE,
WHAT WAS HAPPENING STRAIGHTAWAY

701
00:38:40,067 --> 00:38:44,067
BEFORE THE ADVENT
OF CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION.

702
00:38:44,067 --> 00:38:48,967
Narrator: TODAY, THE PERISCOPE
IS NO LONGER IN USE.

703
00:38:49,067 --> 00:38:52,567
INGENIOUS ENGINEERING ENABLED
PARLIAMENT'S RESIDENTS

704
00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:56,833
TO STAY WARM AND PROVIDED THEM
WITH FRESH AIR TO BREATHE.

705
00:38:56,867 --> 00:38:58,833
THE FINISHING TOUCH WAS

706
00:38:58,867 --> 00:39:01,567
TO MAKE THE HOUSES
OF PARLIAMENT BEAUTIFUL.

707
00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:04,100
IT IS BRITAIN'S
MOST PRESTIGIOUS BUILDING,

708
00:39:04,133 --> 00:39:09,100
AND THE VICTORIANS INSISTED IT
BE SPECTACULAR INSIDE AND OUT.

709
00:39:09,133 --> 00:39:12,167
*

710
00:39:15,700 --> 00:39:18,900
IN THE CENTRAL LOBBY,
STONEMASON ANDY MIDWINTER

711
00:39:18,933 --> 00:39:21,867
IS MAKING SURE
IT STAYS THAT WAY.

712
00:39:21,900 --> 00:39:25,933
WE'RE DOING EXACTLY THE SAME
AS WHAT THE VICTORIANS DID.

713
00:39:27,900 --> 00:39:29,767
Narrator:
THE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS,

714
00:39:29,800 --> 00:39:33,667
WOOD CARVINGS, AND STATUES
MUST ALL BE LOOKED AFTER.

715
00:39:33,700 --> 00:39:35,833
BUT WITH OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE

716
00:39:35,867 --> 00:39:38,100
PASSING THROUGH PARLIAMENT
EVERY YEAR,

717
00:39:38,133 --> 00:39:41,667
IT'S THE GOTHIC FLOOR TILES
THAT NEED THE MOST ATTENTION.

718
00:39:41,700 --> 00:39:43,767
Midwinter: ORIGINALLY,
WHEN THEY WERE FIRST LAID,

719
00:39:43,800 --> 00:39:45,433
THEY'D BE QUITE A VIBRANT COLOR.

720
00:39:45,467 --> 00:39:49,500
OVER THE YEARS, BASICALLY,
THE PATTERN STARTS ERASING.

721
00:39:52,633 --> 00:39:54,367
Narrator:
ANDY MUST CAREFUL CUT

722
00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:57,167
EVERY SINGLE TILE
OUT OF THE FLOOR.

723
00:39:57,200 --> 00:39:59,900
WE USE, LIKE,
A LITTLE TILE CUTTER

724
00:40:00,067 --> 00:40:02,867
WITH A NICE, THIN BLADE.

725
00:40:02,900 --> 00:40:06,567
SO, WHAT WE LITERALLY DO,
CUT BETWEEN THE TWO TILES

726
00:40:06,600 --> 00:40:11,333
SO WE RELEASE THE PRESSURE
AROUND THE SIDES OF THE TILES,

727
00:40:11,367 --> 00:40:14,267
AND THEN WE'LL JUST GET
A HAMMER AND A CLAW

728
00:40:14,300 --> 00:40:17,400
AND GENTLY PUT IT
UNDERNEATH THE TILE

729
00:40:17,433 --> 00:40:20,267
AND GIVE IT A COUPLE OF TAPS.

730
00:40:20,300 --> 00:40:23,433
AND THE TILE SHOULD GENTLY LIFT
WITHOUT DAMAGE.

731
00:40:23,467 --> 00:40:25,300
Narrator:
HIS NEXT JOB IS TO REPLACE

732
00:40:25,333 --> 00:40:28,167
EACH ORIGINAL TILE
WITH AN EXACT REPLICA.

733
00:40:28,200 --> 00:40:30,133
Midwinter:
THIS IS A BRAND-NEW TILE

734
00:40:30,167 --> 00:40:34,200
WHICH HAS BEEN MADE SPECIFICALLY
FOR THIS FLOOR.

735
00:40:34,233 --> 00:40:39,533
THE DESIGN IS EXACTLY THE SAME
AS THE ORIGINAL PUGIN DESIGN,

736
00:40:39,567 --> 00:40:43,800
RIGHT DOWN TO, LIKE, THE LITTLE
DOTS, THE COLORS, EVERYTHING.

737
00:40:43,833 --> 00:40:47,733
Narrator:
RE-CREATING THESE VICTORIAN
TILES HASN'T BEEN EASY.

738
00:40:47,767 --> 00:40:51,167
THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS
DON'T EXIST NO MORE.

739
00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:55,333
Narrator: A MODERN MANUFACTURER
HAD TO REPRODUCE THESE TILES

740
00:40:55,367 --> 00:40:58,233
ONE BY ONE,
MATCHING THE PATTERNS BY EYE.

741
00:40:58,267 --> 00:41:00,467
IT'S BEEN A SLOW PROCESS.

742
00:41:00,500 --> 00:41:03,133
Midwinter: IT HAS BEEN ABOUT
SIX YEARS IN THE MAKING.

743
00:41:03,167 --> 00:41:04,900
THEY ARE HANDMADE.

744
00:41:04,933 --> 00:41:09,133
EVEN THE VERY SIMPLE SORT
OF TILES, IT STILL TAKES SKILL.

745
00:41:09,167 --> 00:41:11,700
IT'S AN ART FORM IN ITSELF.

746
00:41:11,733 --> 00:41:13,733
Narrator:
AND THESE MODERN REPLACEMENTS

747
00:41:13,767 --> 00:41:16,200
EVEN IMPROVE
ON THE VICTORIAN MODELS.

748
00:41:16,233 --> 00:41:19,267
THEY ARE FIRED
AT A MUCH HIGHER TEMPERATURE

749
00:41:19,300 --> 00:41:21,433
THAN THE ORIGINALS
WOULD'VE BEEN.

750
00:41:21,467 --> 00:41:25,067
MAKES THE TILE A MUCH,
MUCH HARDER TILE.

751
00:41:25,067 --> 00:41:28,067
Narrator: ALL THAT'S LEFT IS
TO LAY THEM IN THE FLOOR.

752
00:41:28,100 --> 00:41:30,267
IT'S A HUGE JOB.

753
00:41:30,300 --> 00:41:34,733
THE TILES COVER AN AREA
THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.

754
00:41:34,767 --> 00:41:37,333
ON AVERAGE, ONE PANEL,

755
00:41:37,367 --> 00:41:41,733
I THINK IT'S 714 TILES,

756
00:41:41,767 --> 00:41:45,067
AND WE'VE DONE 10 PANELS,
12 PANELS.

757
00:41:45,100 --> 00:41:49,600
I'VE SET, MYSELF,
OVER 5,000 TILES.

758
00:41:49,633 --> 00:41:53,300
AND WE'VE GOT MANY,
MANY MORE TO GO.

759
00:41:53,333 --> 00:41:55,533
Narrator: WHEN ANDY IS FINISHED,
THE SPLENDOR

760
00:41:55,567 --> 00:41:58,700
OF THE VICTORIANS' VISION
WILL SHINE THROUGH AGAIN.

761
00:41:58,733 --> 00:42:01,833
*

762
00:42:04,567 --> 00:42:07,067
THANKS TO A DEDICATED TEAM
OF EXPERTS

763
00:42:07,067 --> 00:42:11,100
WORKING ACROSS THE BUILDING,
THIS AGING MEGA PALACE

764
00:42:11,133 --> 00:42:13,967
CAN EXPECT
TO GROW OLD GRACEFULLY

765
00:42:14,067 --> 00:42:18,367
AND SURVIVE HUNDREDS OF YEARS
INTO THE FUTURE.

766
00:42:18,400 --> 00:42:22,500
ITS REMARKABLE ROOF...

767
00:42:22,533 --> 00:42:25,100
HIGH-PRECISION CLOCK,

768
00:42:25,133 --> 00:42:28,067
AND UNIQUE VENTILATION SYSTEM --

769
00:42:28,100 --> 00:42:32,467
ALL EVIDENCE OF A BUILDING
LIGHT-YEARS AHEAD OF ITS TIME...

770
00:42:32,500 --> 00:42:36,900
A TRUE MASTERPIECE
OF THE VICTORIAN AGE...

771
00:42:36,933 --> 00:42:40,133
AND ONE OF THE MOST
AWE-INSPIRING BUILDINGS

772
00:42:40,167 --> 00:42:41,733
EVER CREATED.

773
00:42:41,767 --> 00:42:44,800
*