All language subtitles for Unearthed.(2016).S01E06.Secrets.at.the.Palace.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-Cinefeel_track3_[eng]

*

Narrator: THE HOUSES
OF PARLIAMENT IN LONDON,

ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC
STRUCTURES ON THE PLANET.

THIS WASN'T JUST BUILDING
A BUILDING.

THIS WAS A MAJOR PIECE
OF ENGINEERING.

Narrator:
MYSTERIES AND SECRETS LIE

BENEATH THE SKIN
OF THIS MEGA STRUCTURE.

IT'S THE MOST REMARKABLE
BUILDING IN THE WORLD.

Narrator:
HOW DID ITS CREATORS

PUSH TECHNOLOGY
TO THE VERY LIMITS

AND INVENT THE BLUEPRINT
FOR MODERN SKYSCRAPERS?

WHAT KEEPS THE WORLD'S MOST
FAMOUS CLOCK IN PERFECT TIME?

AND HOW DOES IT SURVIVE ALL THAT
MOTHER NATURE CAN THROW AT IT?

THE ONLY WAY
TO SOLVE THESE MYSTERIES IS

TO BLOW THIS IMMENSE PALACE
APART, BRICK BY BRICK

AND DISMANTLE ITS FAMOUS
CLOCK TOWER COG BY COG.

DIVING DEEP THROUGH ITS WALL
AND VAULTS WILL HELP US

UNEARTH THE ASTONISHING SECRETS

AT THE HEART
OF THIS VICTORIAN WONDER.

*

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

STANDING ON THE BANKS
OF THE RIVER THAMES,

IN THE HEART OF LONDON, ENGLAND,
IS THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER,

BETTER KNOWN
AS THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

A LABYRINTH OF MORE THAN 3 MILES
OF CORRIDORS

CONNECTING MORE THAN 1,000

GRAND ROOMS, CHAMBERS,
AND VAULTS.

THIS SITE HAS BEEN THE HOME

OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
FOR CENTURIES.

IT'S BUILT TO LOOK LIKE
A GIANT MEDIEVAL CASTLE.

BUT IT HIDES
MANY MODERN SECRETS.

THIS IMMENSE PALACE
WAS COMPLETED IN 1870.

IT HAS MORE THAN 1,000 ROOMS
SPREAD ACROSS 8 ACRES.

IT HAS THREE SPECTACULAR TOWERS.

TO THE SOUTH,
THE VICTORIA TOWER,

THE TALLEST SQUARE TOWER
IN THE WORLD

WHEN IT WAS COMPLETED.

IN THE CENTER, THE HUGE SPIRE
HAS OVER 2,000 PANES OF GLASS.

AND TO THE NORTH,
THE ICONIC BIG BEN,

HOME TO ONE
OF THE GREATEST TIMEPIECES

THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

*

AN ENGINEERING MARVEL,
WHEN IT WAS CONSTRUCTED,

THIS WAS ONE
OF THE MOST ADVANCED BUILDINGS

ON THE PLANET.

AN ARMY OF WORKERS KEEPS THE
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT RUNNING.

AND TODAY,
A MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR

RESTORATION PROJECT
IS UNDER WAY,

UPGRADING THE BUILDING'S ROOF,

STONEWORK,

AND ORNATE INTERIORS.

THE PROJECT IS HELPING TO UNLOCK

THE VICTORIAN MYSTERIES
OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

CHIEF AMONG THEM
IS THE CLOCK TOWER,

A PIONEERING DISPLAY
OF ENGINEERING GENIUS

BETTER KNOWN AS BIG BEN.

*

HOW DID THE VICTORIANS
MAKE THE WORLD'S LARGEST,

MOST AMBITIOUS CLOCK
AND HAVE IT RUN ON TIME

IN A TOWER
ALMOST 300 FEET TALL?

INSIDE THE TOWER,

IT IS MASTER CLOCKMAKER
IAN WESTWORTH'S JOB

TO KEEP BIG BEN
RUNNING ON TIME.

YOU'VE GOT 334 STAIRS
IN THE CLOCK TOWER

AND NO LIFT, UNFORTUNATELY.

Narrator:
IT'S A TASK THAT TAKES HIM

BEHIND THE FACE
OF THIS FAMOUS LANDMARK

AND INTO THE HEART

OF THIS CLOCK'S
EXTRAORDINARY MECHANISM.

*

INSIDE THIS ICONIC CLOCK TOWER
HANGS BIG BEN ITSELF,

THE NEARLY 14-TON BELL THAT
GIVES THE TOWER ITS NICKNAME.

THE BELLS THAT CHIME ON
THE QUARTER-HOUR SIT AROUND IT.

THEIR STRIKES ARE CONTROLLED
BY THE INTRICATE

TICKING MECHANISM
AT THE HEART OF THE TOWER.

IT KEEPS THE CLOCK ACCURATE
TO WITHIN JUST 2 SECONDS A WEEK.

ON EACH SIDE, 312 SHARDS OF OPAL
GLASS MAKE UP THE CLOCK FACE.

THE COPPER MINUTE HANDS
ARE 14 FEET LONG --

AS TALL AS A DOUBLE-DECKER BUS.

THESE FAMOUS DIALS HAVE KEPT
LONDON RUNNING ON TIME

FOR 160 YEARS.

LIKE ANY ORDINARY WRISTWATCH,
THIS CLOCK NEEDS WINDING,

JUST AS IT DID
IN VICTORIAN TIMES.

PUT THE WINDING HANDLE ON...

AND THEN WINDING FOR ABOUT
THE NEXT HOUR AND A HALF.

Narrator: WHEN PARLIAMENT
COMMISSIONED THIS CLOCK IN 1854,

THEY INSISTED BIG BEN
BE THE BIGGEST,

MOST POWERFUL CHIMING CLOCK
IN THE WORLD...

[ GEAR CLICKS ]

AND MOST CHALLENGING
FOR THE DESIGNERS,

ACCURATE TO WITHIN
2 SECONDS PER WEEK.

[ GEARS CLICKING ]

BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM

WITH MAKING
SUCH A GIANT CLOCK ACCURATE.

Westworth:
THE CLOCKMAKERS OF THE DAY
SAID YOU JUST COULDN'T DO IT.

OUR MINUTE HANDS
ARE 14 FEET LONG,

SO IN A GOOD GUST OF WIND,
THEY ACTED LIKE SAILS.

AND CLOCKS BEFORE THIS TIME,
THE WIND WOULD CATCH THE HANDS,

AND THE HANDS WOULD DRIVE BACK
AND MAKE THE CLOCK INACCURATE.

*

Narrator:
HOW DID THE VICTORIANS

DESIGN A CLOCK
THAT COULD RESIST THE WIND?

THE SECRET TO STOPPING
STRONG GUSTS BLOWING THE HANDS

OUT OF TIME
IS A SET OF HEAVY WEIGHTS

THAT PULL THE HANDS AROUND
AS THEY DROP.

TWO SWINGING ARMS
KEEP THE WEIGHTS DROPPING

AT THE CORRECT SPEED
BY PUSHING THE PENDULUM,

WHICH SETS THE TICKING SPEED
OF THE CLOCK.

*

THE PENDULUM TURNS A RATCHET
WHEEL ONCE EVERY SECOND...

...WHICH RELEASES THE WEIGHTS
BY A PRECISE AMOUNT...

...SO THEY CAN PULL
THE CLOCK HANDS AROUND

AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT SPEED.

THE VICTORIANS HAD STOPPED
THE WIND FROM AFFECTING BIG BEN,

BUT WITH ANY CLOCK,
MINUTE CHANGES IN THE ATMOSPHERE

COULD ALSO IMPACT THE MECHANISM.

AND THE BIGGER THE CLOCK,
THE BIGGER THE RISK.

TODAY, IAN USES TECHNOLOGY

THAT VICTORIAN CLOCKMAKERS
COULD ONLY DREAM OF.

A SYSTEM OF SENSORS HOOKED UP
TO A COMPUTER ALLOWS HIM

TO MONITOR
THE TINY ATMOSPHERIC CHANGES.

WE'VE GOT TEMPERATURE
IN THE CLOCK ROOM,

WHICH WE MONITOR ALL THE TIME.

THE GREEN LINE TRACKS
CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE

THAT CAUSES THE MECHANISM'S
METAL TO EXPAND AND CONTRACT.

Westworth: JUST THESE LITTLE
BLIPS ON THE TEMPERATURE

ARE PEOPLE COMING IN.

THAT'S HOW ACCURATE
WE'RE ACTUALLY MONITORING

WHAT'S GOING ON
INSIDE THE CLOCK ROOM.

Narrator: ANOTHER SENSOR
ALLOWS IAN TO CHECK THE EFFECT

OF THESE TEMPERATURE CHANGES
ON THE PENDULUM.

AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE 14 1/2 FEET LONG PENDULUM,

THERE'S AN OPTICAL SENSOR.

EVERY TIME THE PENDULUM
BREAKS THE OPTICS,

IT SENDS A MESSAGE
TO THIS LAPTOP.

THE PENDULUM SHOULD
BE BREAKING IT EVERY 2 SECONDS.

AND THE BROWN LINE
DOWN THE MIDDLE WILL TELL US

EXACTLY HOW CLOSE
TO 2 SECONDS WE ARE.

AT THE MOMENT,
WE'RE RUNNING AT 2.00012.

SHE'S DOING
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC,

APART FROM BEING
A LITTLE BIT SLOW.

Narrator: IAN THINKS THAT
THE DAY'S TEMPERATURE CHANGES

HAVE CAUSED THIS INACCURACY.

IT MAY BE SMALL,
BUT WITHOUT EXPERT INTERVENTION,

IT WILL KNOCK THE CLOCK
5 SECONDS OUT OF TIME

IN A SINGLE DAY.

IAN CHECKS IF BIG BEN
IS ON TIME.

HE GETS AN ACCURATE READING
OF GREENWICH MEAN TIME

AND THEN HEADS TO THE BELFRY.

IT'S CURRENTLY ALMOST 10:00 A.M.

WILL BIG BEN CHIME ON TIME?

Westworth:
SO, WHAT YOU'LL SEE --

THIS IS THE FIRST HAMMER
THAT MOVES,

SO IT DOESN'T COME AS A SHOCK.

IF YOU WATCH THAT ONE,
IT'LL LIFT UP

AND DROP AND PLAY THE 16 NOTES.

THEN THERE'S A PAUSE
OF ABOUT 10 SECONDS,

AND THEN THAT ONE WILL GO.

IT'LL BE ANY MOMENT...

NOW.

[ BELLS TOLLING ]

[ BELL TOLLS ]

Narrator: BIG BEN'S CHIME
ROARS ACROSS THE CAPITAL

AT 118 DECIBELS,

ALMOST AS LOUD
AS A JET PLANE TAKING OFF.

Westworth: YOU CAN FEEL
THE VIBRATION OF THE BELL

THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE BELFRY.

WHEN THE BELL WAS FIRST FITTED,

YOU COULD HEAR IT
10 KILOMETERS AWAY.

NOWADAYS, YOU'LL BE LUCKY TO
HEAR IT HALF A KILOMETER AWAY

ACROSS THE RIVER, 'CAUSE THERE'S
SO MUCH NOISE IN LONDON NOW.

[ TOLLING CONTINUES ]

Narrator:
SO, IS THE CLOCK ON TIME?

WE'RE ONE SECOND SLOW.

Narrator: WITH THE TEMPERATURE
AFFECTING BIG BEN THIS MUCH,

IAN NEEDS TO BRING
THE CLOCK BACK UP TO SPEED.

BUT HOW CAN HE ADJUST
THE TIME ON A CLOCK

THAT'S GOT 14-FOOT-LONG HANDS?

IAN KNOWS THE SECRET
THAT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN

FROM BIG BEN'S
ORIGINAL CLOCK KEEPERS.

Westworth: TRADITIONALLY,
WHAT WE DO, WE ADD A PENNY.

ONE PENNY --
OLD PRE-DECIMAL COIN --

SPEEDS THE CLOCK UP JUST TO
BRING THE CLOCK BACK INTO TIME.

Narrator: LIKE THOSE
ORIGINAL CLOCK KEEPERS,

IAN KNOWS THIS TINY WEIGHT
RAISES THE PENDULUM'S

CENTER OF GRAVITY
AND MAKES IT SWING FASTER.

WE'VE CORRECTED IT,
AND IT'S COME BACK UP TO TIME.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD
FOR A 160-YEAR-OLD CLOCK.

Narrator: WITH THE MIXTURE
OF VICTORIAN KNOW-HOW

AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY,

IAN KEEPS BIG BEN
IN PERFECT TIME.

[ BELL TOLLS ]

*

THE CLOCK STANDS
IN A NEARLY 9,000-TON TOWER

THAT RISES FROM LONDON'S
SOFT, GRAVELLY EARTH.

HOW DID THE VICTORIANS
STOP THIS BEHEMOTH TOWER

FROM COLLAPSING
ON SUCH UNSTABLE GROUND?

AND HOW HAS IT SURVIVED

AS THE CITY HAS EXPANDED
BENEATH IT?

*

Narrator: THE HOUSES
OF PARLIAMENT IN LONDON,

THE MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY
ADVANCED BUILDING OF ITS AGE.

AN ARMY OF EXPERTS
KEEPS THIS STRUCTURE RUNNING,

REVEALING ITS VICTORIAN SECRETS
AS THEY GO.

*

FOR OVER A CENTURY,
BIG BEN HAS BEEN

THE TICKING HEART
AT THE CITY'S CENTER.

A TRIUMPH OF ENGINEERING,

SUPPORTING THIS
GROUNDBREAKING CLOCK

REQUIRES A TOWER
THAT'S EQUALLY MAGNIFICENT.

MADE FROM OVER 1 MILLION
STONES AND BRICKS,

THIS TOWER IS ENORMOUSLY HEAVY.

38 TONS OF IRON TILE SIT
ON TOP OF THE SPIRE.

BENEATH THEM,
THE BRONZE BELLS WEIGH 24 TONS.

THE CLOCK MECHANISM IS
AS HEAVY AS A MILITARY TRUCK.

TO HOLD UP
THE COLOSSAL STRUCTURE --

NEARLY 9,000 TONS
OF STONE AND BRICK --

THE VICTORIANS BUILT A CONCRETE
FOUNDATION ALMOST 10 FEET THICK

TO STOP THE TOWERS FROM SINKING
INTO THE WET SAND BENEATH.

THESE SOLID FOUNDATIONS
HAVE KEPT THIS LONDON LANDMARK

STANDING TALL FOR 160 YEARS.

BUT THE CHALLENGES
FACING BIG BEN

WERE NOT OVER
WHEN CONSTRUCTION FINISHED.

LONDON IS CONSTANTLY
REBUILDING ITSELF.

AND ITS SUBTERRANEAN
RAIL NETWORK,

THE UNDERGROUND,
IS EVER-EXPANDING.

TODAY, THE CONSTRUCTION
OF NEW TRAIN TUNNELS

POSES A CONSTANT THREAT
TO BUILDINGS ON THE SURFACE.

THE LAST THING YOU WANT
IS STRUCTURES ABOVEGROUND

MOVING BECAUSE OF WHAT
YOU'RE DOING BELOWGROUND.

Narrator:
GEOFF MORRIS IS ONE

OF THE LONDON UNDERGROUND'S
ENGINEERS.

HE KNOWS JUST HOW DANGEROUS
TUNNELING CAN BE.

AND THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO
WOULD BE COLLAPSE.

Narrator: IN 1994,

THE LONDON UNDERGROUND
EXCAVATED NEW TRAIN TUNNELS

JUST 90 FEET
FROM THE BASE OF BIG BEN.

AS TUNNELING PROGRESSED,
ENGINEERS WERE ALARMED

TO DETECT MOVEMENT
IN THE BUILDINGS ABOVE.

THERE WAS A PROBLEM
WITH THE GROUND MOVEMENT

BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDATIONS
BECOMING DESTABILIZED.

Narrator:
THE ENGINEERS FACED A CHALLENGE.

THEY NEEDED TO STOP BIG BEN'S
CLOCK TOWER FROM TILTING, FAST,

BUT THE PROBLEM
WAS BIGGER THAN THEY REALIZED.

THE EARTH UNDER BIG BEN
IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE.

Morris:
IF YOU'VE BEEN TO THE SEASIDE

AND YOU TRY AND DIG A HOLE,

IT JUST INSTANTLY FILLS UP
WITH WATER

AND GROWS WIDER INSTEAD
OF DEEPER,

THEN THAT IS TYPICAL
OF THE GRAVEL

AND THE GROUND CONDITIONS
AT WESTMINSTER.

YOU NEED SOMETHING
THAT'S GONNA WORK VERY QUICKLY.

Narrator: AS THE 24-FOOT-WIDE
TRAIN TUNNELS RAN CLOSE

TO BIG BEN'S FOUNDATIONS...

THE TOWER BEGAN TO LEAN.

TO KEEP IT STABLE,
ENGINEERS DUG A DEEP SHAFT...

...AND PUSHED LONG STEEL TUBES

INTO THE GROUND
RIGHT BENEATH BIG BEN.

EACH TUBE HAD 600 VALVES

SO WORKERS COULD PUMP IN
A CONCRETE MIXTURE

TO FILL THE CRACKS IN THE GROUND
WITH PRECISION.

AS THE ENGINEERS
DUG THE TUNNELS,

THEY INJECTED OVER 220 TONS
OF CONCRETE MIXTURE,

SUCCESSFULLY STOPPING BIG BEN

FROM BECOMING
A LEANING TOWER OF PISA.

Morris:
ONCE THEY STABILIZED THE GROUND,

IT WOULD'VE STOPPED
ANY POTENTIAL FURTHER MOVEMENT

ON THE CLOCK TOWER.

ONE OF THE KEY INGREDIENTS
INTO SUCCESSFUL TUNNELING.

Narrator:
THIS INGENIOUS INTERVENTION

KEPT THE TOWER STANDING UPRIGHT
AND THE BELLS RINGING ON TIME.

[ BELLS TOLLING ]

EXPERTS
MAY HAVE SAVED PARLIAMENT

FROM DANGERS BELOWGROUND,
BUT NOW A BIGGER PROBLEM

THREATENS IT FROM ABOVE.

AFTER 160 YEARS COVERING
THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,

THE ROOF IS FAILING.

WORK TO RESTORE IT GOES ON
DAY AND NIGHT.

NO INSTRUCTIONS
FOR BUILDING THIS ROOF

SURVIVE FROM VICTORIAN TIMES.

AS ENGINEERS DISMANTLE

THE 65,000-SQUARE-FOOT
ROOF STRUCTURE,

THEY'RE UNCOVERING THE SECRETS
OF ITS INTRICATE DESIGN.

ELTON BILTON IS IN CHARGE
OF THE OPERATION.

*

HOW'S THAT LOOKING?
ALL RIGHT?

ELTON AND HIS TEAM
HAVE TO REMOVE

AND REPAIR EVERY SINGLE TILE.

WE'RE BUSY STRIPPING THE ROOF,
TAKING ALL THE OLD TILES OFF.

THESE OLD TILES
THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE ROOF

FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS,

THEY ARE DAMAGED
AND IN A BAD STATE.

Narrator:
AFTER SURVIVING LONDON'S WEATHER

FOR AN INCREDIBLE 160 YEARS,
RESTORATION IS NOW CRITICAL.

IT'S A DANGEROUS UNDERTAKING.

Bilton: EACH TILE WEIGHS
BETWEEN 40 AND 50 KILOGRAMS.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT A TILE
LIKE THAT FALLING ON YOUR HEAD.

THEY'VE GOT SHARP EDGES,
AND THEY'RE VERY HEAVY.

Narrator:
ELTON REMOVES THE TILES

SO HE CAN SEND THEM AWAY
FOR REPAIRS.

THEY MAY LOOK THE SAME,
BUT EVERY SINGLE TILE IS UNIQUE.

PUTTING THE REPAIRED TILES BACK

WILL BE AN ENORMOUS
JIGSAW PUZZLE.

Bilton: BEFORE ANYTHING
GETS REMOVED FROM THE ROOF,

EACH AND EVERY COMPONENT
HAS A UNIQUE NUMBER.

OTHERWISE, IT WOULD BE CHAOS,

AND WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE
TO PUT THINGS.

Narrator: USING THIS PROCESS,
ONCE THE TILES ARE RESTORED,

ELTON WILL REASSEMBLE
THE 7,000-TILE ROOF

EXACTLY
AS THE VICTORIANS INTENDED.

OKAY, THAT TILE'S NOW READY

TO GO BACK TO THE FACTORY
FOR RESTORATION.

Narrator:
WHY DID THE VICTORIANS

BUILD THE ROOF
WITH SUCH A COMPLEX DESIGN?

*

THE ANSWER LIES
IN A 19th-CENTURY DISASTER.

AT THIS TRAINING CENTER
50 MILES FROM PARLIAMENT,

FIREFIGHTERS
THINK THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

IS EVERYBODY FIT AND WELL
TO TAKE PART

IN THIS
LIVE-FIRE EXERCISE?

I NEED A POSITIVE RESPONSE
FROM YOU ALL.

All: YES, SIR.

Narrator: THE ORIGINAL
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

WERE A COLLECTION
OF MEDIEVAL BUILDINGS

THAT HAD STOOD ON THE THAMES
FOR ALMOST 1,000 YEARS.

BUT IN 1834,
A FIRE BROKE OUT IN PARLIAMENT

THAT CAUSED DESTRUCTION
ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE.

THE SUDDEN FIREBALL
WAS SO BRIGHT,

IT WAS SEEN 25 MILES AWAY.

THE BIG MYSTERY --

WHAT CAUSED
SUCH A DEVASTATING EXPLOSION?

*

[ FIRE CRACKLING ]

Narrator: IN LONDON,

PAULINE HOLDEN
TRAINS FIREFIGHTERS.

SHE THINKS THE 1834 EXPLOSION
AT THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

WAS TRIGGERED BY A DEADLY
PHENOMENON CALLED A FLASHOVER.

A FLASHOVER CAN OCCUR EXTREMELY
QUICKLY -- WITHIN MINUTES.

Narrator: AS FIRE HEATS

THE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS
IN A ROOM,

THEY RELEASE FLAMMABLE GASES.

IF THESE GASES ARE TRAPPED
IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE...

WHEN THE FIRE REACHES
A CRITICAL TEMPERATURE,

THERE'S ONE POSSIBLE OUTCOME.

FIRE MAKES THE GASES
EXPLODE INTO A FIREBALL.

Narrator:
THIS IS A FLASHOVER.

BACK IN 1834,

PARLIAMENT'S BUILDINGS
WERE MADE FROM STONE.

BUT THE ROOFS
WERE MADE FROM WOOD.

THE FLASHOVER
IGNITED THE WOODEN ROOFS,

SPREADING THE BLAZE
WITH ASTONISHING SPEED.

FIREFIGHTERS BATTLED IN VAIN.

THE FIRE DESTROYED
THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

BRITAIN'S GOVERNMENT
NEEDED A NEW HEADQUARTERS.

AND THIS TIME,
IT WOULD BE FIREPROOF.

*

INSIDE ANOTHER SECTION
OF THE ROOF'S STRUCTURE,

PALACE ARCHITECT ADAM WATROBSKI
IS INVESTIGATING

HOW THE VICTORIANS
ENSURED THEIR PARLIAMENT

WOULD NEVER BURN TO THE GROUND.

Watrobski:
AFTER THE GREAT FIRE OF 1834,

ONE OF THE PRIORITIES
IN REBUILDING

THE NEW PALACE OF WESTMINSTER

WAS TO MAKE IT
AS FIREPROOF AS POSSIBLE.

AND THIS REMARKABLE ROOF IS PART
OF THAT FIREPROOFING EXERCISE.

Narrator: THE VICTORIAN
ENGINEERS TOOK ADVANTAGE

OF A NEW BUILDING MATERIAL.

THE FRAME OF THE ROOF AND TILES
ARE ALL MADE FROM CAST IRON.

CAST IRON HAD NEVER BEEN USED
ON THIS SCALE BEFORE.

Narrator: WITH A MELTING POINT
OF 2,300 DEGREES,

THIS CAST-IRON ROOF
WOULD HOLD UP

WHEN A TIMBER ROOF
WOULD JUST BURN.

THE CAST-IRON ROOF
USED CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY,

BOTH IN TERMS OF THE MATERIALS
AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION,

WITH, OF COURSE, NOT A COMPUTER
IN SIGHT WHEN IT WAS DESIGNED,

SO THIS WAS A HUGE EXPERIMENT.

Narrator: PULLING THIS OFF
WAS A GREAT CHALLENGE.

CAST IRON IS EXTREMELY HEAVY,
SO HOW DID THE VICTORIANS

DESIGN THIS ROOF SO THAT IT
WOULDN'T COLLAPSE IN ON ITSELF?

THE SECRET LIES HIDDEN INSIDE.

THE 7,000 CAST-IRON TILES
THAT COVER THE ENTIRE PALACE

ADD OVER 386 TONS
TO THE WEIGHT OF THE ROOF.

BUT EACH TILE HAS
A CLEVER DESIGN,

WHICH ALLOWS THEM
TO BECOME EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG

AS THEY LOCK RIGIDLY TOGETHER.

UNDERNEATH, A LIGHTWEIGHT
SKELETON OF TRUSSES

IS ENOUGH
TO HOLD THE ROOF ALOFT.

THE TRUSSES ADD VERY LITTLE
ADDITIONAL PRESSURE

TO THE WALLS BELOW,
CREATING THIS UNIQUE SYSTEM

THAT STILL PROTECTS THE HOUSES
OF PARLIAMENT TO THIS DAY.

*

IN THESE VAST WORKSHOPS
IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE,

WORKERS ARE PREPARING THE IRON
TILES THAT HAVE COME OFF

PARLIAMENT'S ROOF
FOR RESTORATION.

THE ORIGINAL ENGINEERS
COULD NEVER HAVE PREDICTED

HOW A CENTURY
OF LONDON'S WEATHER

WOULD AFFECT THIS UNIQUE ROOF.

WORKERS BLAST THE TILES
WITH PARTICLES OF STEEL,

REMOVING THE RUST AND GRIME

TO REVEAL ANY HOLES
OR FRACTURES IN THE IRON.

REPAIRING THIS DAMAGE IS

THE MOST IMPORTANT STAGE
OF THE RESTORATION.

IT'S A HIGHLY SPECIALIZED JOB.

DANNY WHITWORTH IS IN CHARGE

OF FIXING
PARLIAMENT'S ROOF TILES.

DANNY APPLIES BRONZE
AT OVER 1,500 DEGREES

INTO THE DEFECTS IN THE TILE.

THIS RESTORES
THE TILE'S STRENGTH.

BUT APPLYING TOO MUCH HEAT COULD
CAUSE THE BRITTLE IRON TO CRACK.

WITH ONE SLIP OF THE HAND,

DANNY COULD RUIN
THE 160-YEAR-OLD TILE.

*

ONCE REPAIRED,
THE TILES ARE RETURNED

TO THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,

READY FOR ELTON
TO INSTALL ON THE ROOF.

*

THAT'S A PREFECT FIT.

IF THEY ALL FIT IN LIKE THAT,
WE'D BE VERY HAPPY.

THIS ROOF SHOULD LAST
FOR ANOTHER 80 TO 100 YEARS.

THANKS TO ELTON'S TEAM,

ANOTHER SECTION
OF THE ROOF IS COMPLETE.

JOB WELL DONE, I'D SAY.

Narrator:
THE PALACE'S ALL-IRON ROOF

WAS A UNIQUE
ENGINEERING SOLUTION.

BUT ITS VICTORIAN CREATORS
WANTED TO PUSH PARLIAMENT

TO RECORD-BREAKING HEIGHTS.

TO DO THIS, THEY HAD TO INVENT
A RADICAL NEW WAY OF BUILDING

AND TAKE ON
THE RIVER THAMES ITSELF.

*

Narrator:
BRITAIN'S HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,

A BUILDING LIGHT-YEARS
AHEAD OF ITS TIME.

TODAY, EXPERTS ARE DECIPHERING

THE MYSTERIES
OF ITS VICTORIAN DESIGN.

AT ITS SOUTHERN END SOARS THE
EXTRAORDINARY VICTORIA TOWER.

IT STANDS 320 FEET HIGH,

EVEN TALLER
THAN BIG BEN'S CLOCK TOWER.

YET AT ITS BASE CONTAINS A VAST,
OPEN, CEREMONIAL ENTRANCE.

HOW DID ENGINEERS BUILD THIS
320-FOOT-HIGH MEGA STRUCTURE

AND SUPPORT ITS NINE FLOORS
ABOVE THIS EMPTY SPACE?

*

THE TRADITIONAL BRICKS
AND STONES HIDE A SECRET --

AN IMMENSE IRON SKELETON.

A NETWORK OF TAPERING COLUMNS,
EACH 200 FEET TALL,

SUPPORTS THE WEIGHT
OF THE BUILDING'S FLOORS.

THE COLUMNS CHANNEL
THIS IMMENSE LOAD

DOWN TO A BASE MADE
FROM 13-TON GIRDERS.

IT TRANSFERS THE WEIGHT OF THE
FLOORS ONTO FOUR EXTERNAL WALLS,

LEAVING AN IMMENSE
STONE VAULT BELOW.

THE VICTORIA TOWER'S ENGINEERING
WAS DECADES AHEAD OF ITS TIME.

THIS TOWER WAS THE INSPIRATION

FOR ONE OF AMERICA'S
EARLIEST SKYSCRAPERS --

THE WOOLWORTH BUILDING
IN NEW YORK.

ITS IRON SKELETON
WAS A VITAL STEP

TOWARDS DEVELOPING
STEEL-FRAME SKYSCRAPERS

IN THE 20th CENTURY,
WHICH WENT ON TO DOMINATE

NOT ONLY NEW YORK'S
ICONIC SKYLINE,

BUT CITIES ACROSS THE WORLD.

THE VICTORIANS HAD BUILT A
PRECURSOR TO MODERN SKYSCRAPERS,

BUT WHY DID THEY NEED
TO CONSTRUCT

SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY STRUCTURE?

*

DEEP INSIDE THE VICTORIA TOWER
HOLDS PARLIAMENT'S

MOST PRECIOUS TREASURES, JUST AS
IT DID WHEN IT WAS BUILT.

AROUND US, WE CAN SEE
64,000 ACTS OF PARLIAMENT,

DATING BACK TO THE 15th CENTURY,
STORED IN PARCHMENT SCROLLS,

ONE SCROLL PER ACT --

ALL THE LAWS
THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED

BY PARLIAMENT
OVER THE CENTURIES.

Narrator:
ARCHIVIST CAROLINE SHENTON

GUARDS THESE PRICELESS LAWS.

IT'S AN AMAZING SPACE
AND AIR-CONDITIONED, TOO --

16 DEGREES CENTIGRADE
AND 55% HUMIDITY,

WHICH HELPS TO KEEP
ALL THESE INCREDIBLE SCROLLS

AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE
TO PRESERVE THEM FOR THE FUTURE.

Narrator: STORING ALL OF
PARLIAMENT'S DOCUMENTS AND LAWS

PUSH THE VICTORIA TOWER UP
TO ITS RECORD-BREAKING HEIGHT.

BUT BUILDING BIG
WAS A HUGE CHALLENGE.

BACK IN 1834, AS TODAY,
ROADS AND HISTORIC BUILDINGS

SURROUNDED THE SITE
ON THREE SIDES.

THERE WAS NO SPACE
FOR THE SCAFFOLDING OR CRANES

THAT COULD CREATE
SUCH A VAST TOWER.

THE VICTORIANS NEEDED TO INVENT
A RADICALLY NEW WAY OF BUILDING.

ENGINEERS HIT
ON AN INGENIOUS SOLUTION...

...TO USE A GIANT,
RISING PLATFORM

AND BUILD THE ENTIRE TOWER
FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

EIGHT MEN HOISTED UP
THE 44-TON PLATFORM,

CRANKING THE GEARS
IN 6-FOOT BURSTS.

ON TOP, A CRANE LIFTED
THE 4 TONS OF STONES

FROM THE GROUND TO THE PLATFORM.

POWERED BY A STEAM ENGINE,

IT COULD DELIVER
10 LOADS AN HOUR.

TWO MORE CRANES
PLACED THE HEAVY STONES

IN POSITION ON THE TOWER WALLS.

TO OBSERVERS, THE TOWER APPEARED

TO GROW EFFORTLESSLY
UNDER ITS OWN STEAM.

THIS INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION
TECHNIQUE SOLVED

THE ENGINEERS' PROBLEM
ON ONE SIDE OF THE PALACE.

BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE,
THEY HAD TO CONTEND

WITH AN EVEN GREATER
ADVERSARY --

THE RIVER THAMES.

AT PARLIAMENT'S RIVER WALL,

WHERE THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
MEETS THE RIVER THAMES,

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
ALISTAIR LENCZNER INVESTIGATES

HOW THE VICTORIANS CREATED

THE SPACE THEY NEEDED
FOR THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

THEY WORKED OUT THAT THE SIZE
OF BUILDING THEY REALLY NEEDED

WAS ACTUALLY A LOT LARGER THAN
THE SPACE THAT WAS AVAILABLE.

Narrator:
WITH ROADS AND BUILDINGS
SURROUNDING THE SITE,

PARLIAMENT'S DESIGNERS COULD
ONLY EXPAND IN ONE DIRECTION.

SO, IF WE CONSIDER
THIS AREA HERE...

IS THE FOUNDATION
OF THE NEW BUILDING DESIGN,

BUT THIS LINE HERE IS THE LINE
OF THE RIVERBANK AT THE TIME.

SO WE CAN SEE THAT ALL THIS PART
OF THE BUILDING

HAD TO BE BUILT OUT INTO
THE EXISTING TIDAL RIVER THAMES.

Narrator: TO BUILD ON THIS LAND,
VICTORIAN ENGINEERS

NEEDED TO RECLAIM IT
FROM THE RIVER.

IT WAS A HUGE CHALLENGE
THAT CALLED

FOR A TRAILBLAZING
CONSTRUCTION PLAN.

*

Narrator: TO BUILD LONDON'S
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,

ENGINEERS HAD TO RECLAIM LAND
FROM THE RIVER THAMES.

FIRST, THEY TOOK TWIN ROWS
OF TIMBER PILES,

EACH 36 FEET DEEP, AND DROVE
THEM INTO THE RIVERBED.

THEN THEY FIXED SHEETS OF STEEL

BETWEEN THE PILES
TO CREATE TWO BARRIERS.

EACH BARRIER
WAS OVER 790 FEET LONG.

THE ENGINEERS FILLED
THE SPACE WITH CLAY

TO CREATE A WATERTIGHT WALL
CALLED A COFFERDAM.

FINALLY, THEY DRAINED
THE TRAPPED RIVER WATER

AND FILLED THE SPACE
WITH CONCRETE

TO FORM THE FOUNDATIONS
OF PARLIAMENT.

THE FINAL CHALLENGE WAS
TO REPLACE THE TEMPORARY

COFFERDAM WITH SOMETHING
STRONG ENOUGH

TO WITHSTAND THE MIGHTY THAMES.

SO, ONCE THE COFFERDAM
HAD BEEN BUILT

AND THEY'D CREATED
THE DRY SPACE BEHIND IT,

THAT ALLOWED THEM
TO START CONSTRUCTION

OF THE PERMANENT RIVER WALL.

Narrator: THIS WALL NEEDS
TO PROTECT PARLIAMENT

FROM THE EXTREME PRESSURES
OF THE RISING TIDE.

THE SECRET TO THE STRENGTH
OF THE RIVER WALL

LIES IN ITS SHAPE.

AT HIGH TIDE, THE PRESSURE GETS
BIGGER THE LOWER YOU GET DOWN.

TO RESIST THAT HIGHER PRESSURE
LOWER DOWN,

THE RIVER WALL ITSELF
NEEDS TO GET WIDER

AND MORE MASSIVE TO STAY STABLE
UNDER THE WATER PRESSURE.

BEHIND ME, YOU CAN SEE THE SHAPE
WHICH TAPERS UPWARDS.

Narrator:
TODAY, DAMS ALL OVER THE WORLD

USE THIS SAME TAPER DESIGN.

IT HAS KEPT
THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

STANDING TALL IN THE RIVER
FOR OVER 160 YEARS.

BUT THESE STONES
AREN'T INVINCIBLE.

ON THE ROOFTOP,
THE STONEWORK IS UNDER ATTACK.

ON THE LORDS' ROOF,
ARCHITECT ADAM WATROBSKI

INVESTIGATES THE FABRIC
OF THE BUILDING.

Watrobski: THERE'S A GARGOYLE
UP THERE WITH A HEAD MISSING.

THE STONE CORRODED SO MUCH THAT
THAT HEAD PROBABLY FELL OFF.

Narrator: ENGINEERS
MUST CONSTANTLY MONITOR

PARLIAMENT'S LIMESTONE EXTERIOR.

THIS BLACK IS AN ACCUMULATION
OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

PRODUCED BY COAL FIRES
AND BY FACTORIES

DURING THE VICTORIAN ERA.

Narrator:
THIS POLLUTION WILL HAVE

LONG-TERM EFFECTS
ON THE BUILDING.

Watrobski: THE POLLUTION
THAT YOU SEE ON THE SURFACE

IS QUITE DAMAGING,
BECAUSE THE RAIN FALLS ON IT,

AND THE BLACK,
WHICH IS CARBON, FORMS ACID,

AND THE ACID
THEN CHANGES THE COMPOSITION

OF THE STONE INTO THIS POWDER,
WHICH JUST SIMPLY DROPS OFF.

Narrator:
ADAM'S TEAM MUST REPLACE

THIS DETERIORATED STONEWORK
WITH NEW, MORE ROBUST LIMESTONE,

A JOB THAT CONTINUES
ACROSS THE BUILDING.

BUT POLLUTION
IS NOT THE ONLY THING

THAT THREATENS
PARLIAMENT'S DELICATE STONE.

THERE IS ONE EVER-PRESENT DANGER

THAT ONLY PARLIAMENT'S
MOST UNUSUAL TEAM CAN TACKLE.

[ BELL JINGLING ]

Bigwood: I DO GET
A LOT OF FUNNY LOOKS,

ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE PASS ME.

A LOT OF THE TIME,
THEY LOOK BACK AT ME

'CAUSE THEY DON'T BELIEVE
WHAT THEY'VE JUST SEEN.

[ BELL JINGLING ]

*

Narrator: MARK BIGWOOD
AND HIS HAWK, ANGEL,

PROTECT PARLIAMENT
FROM A SURPRISING THREAT --

LONDON'S ARMY OF PIGEONS.

[ PIGEON COOS ]

ANGEL'S JOB IS TO KEEP
THE PIGEONS OFF THE BUILDING.

PIGEONS' DROPPINGS
ARE VERY ACIDIC TO THE LIMESTONE

THAT THE PALACE IS BUILT OF,

AND IT WOULD CAUSE
AN AWFUL LOT OF DAMAGE

TO THE STONEWORK,
SOME OF IT IRREVERSIBLE.

Narrator:
WITHOUT THIS ESSENTIAL WORK,

THE PIGEON DROPPINGS
COULD DESTROY

THE PALACE'S
DELICATE LIMESTONE FACADE.

[ BELL JINGLES ]

THE AIM ISN'T
TO ACTUALLY CATCH THE PIGEONS.

ANGEL'S PRESENCE HERE PROVIDES
ALL OF THE DETERRENT NEEDED.

Bigwood: PIGEONS ARE NATURALLY
AFRAID OF BIRDS OF PREY.

AND PIGEONS RECOGNIZE THE FACT
THAT HE'S A BIRD OF PREY,

SO THEY ARE AFRAID OF IT.

Narrator:
MARK AND ANGEL'S ROOFTOP PATROLS

HAVE HAD A HUGE IMPACT.

WHEN WE STARTED WORKING HERE
ABOUT 10, 15 YEARS AGO,

THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,
40 PIGEONS

THAT WERE PERMANENTLY ON SITE.

THEY WERE ROOSTING
AND NESTING ON SITE.

AND NOW THERE'S JUST
A COUPLE OF PIGEONS

THAT WANDER IN DURING THE DAY.

Narrator: MARK AND ANGEL'S
INVALUABLE WORK IS HELPING

TO KEEP PARLIAMENT'S
STONEWORK PRISTINE

160 YEARS AFTER IT WAS BUILT.

TODAY, INVESTIGATORS
ARE UNLOCKING THE SECRETS

HELD INSIDE
THIS EXTRAORDINARY BUILDING.

THEY'RE FINDING SPACES THAT
APPEAR TO HAVE HIDDEN PURPOSES.

COULD THIS VAST CAVITY
AT THE HEART OF THE BUILDING

BE THE SECRET TO UNDERSTANDING
THESE HUGE TUNNEL SYSTEMS?

*

*

Narrator:
LONDON'S HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,

A VICTORIAN ENGINEERING MARVEL

ENCASED IN A SPECTACULAR
GOTHIC SHELL.

PARLIAMENT ISN'T JUST
A MONUMENT.

IT'S A LIVING, WORKING BUILDING.

THE VICTORIANS HAD TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE COULD WORK HERE

DURING THE COLDEST
WINTER MONTHS.

OPEN FIRES HEATED UP
ITS 1,000-PLUS ROOMS.

SO HOW DID THEY STOP PARLIAMENT
FROM FILLING UP WITH SMOKE?

AN AMAZING INNOVATION SITS RIGHT
AT THE HEART OF THE PALACE.

THIS ELABORATE SPIRE IS,
IN FACT, A CHIMNEY

THAT SITS ABOVE THE PALACE'S
BUSY CENTRAL LOBBY.

WARM AIR
FROM THE ROOM BELOW ROSE UP

THROUGH A HOLE
IN ITS DOMED ROOF.

THIS CREATED AN UPWARDS CURRENT
THAT PUSHES SMOKE UP

AND OUT OF THE GIGANTIC SPIRE
THROUGH 16 HOLES

SPREAD ACROSS THE TOWER
AND 32 OPEN WINDOWS.

THIS HIDDEN VENTILATION SYSTEM

WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

*

TODAY, THIS CHIMNEY IS LOCKED UP

AND KEPT SECRET FROM MOST
VISITORS TO PARLIAMENT.

*

ARCHITECT ADAM WATROBSKI
INVESTIGATES IF IT

COULD REALLY HAVE WORKED
AS THE DESIGNERS HOPED.

WE'RE DIRECTLY
OVER CENTRAL LOBBY,

WHICH IS THE CROSSROADS
OF THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER.

Narrator:
THIS LOCATION IS CRUCIAL
TO THE VICTORIAN CHIMNEY DESIGN.

ADAM WANTS TO TEST
JUST HOW EFFICIENT

THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WAS.

YOU CAN FEEL
REALLY QUITE A STRONG UPDRAFT

COMING FROM CENTRAL LOBBY
BELOW ME HERE.

I'VE GOT THIS PIECE OF KIT HERE,

WHICH, AS I STEP BACK,
WILL MEASURE THE AIR SPEED.

IT'S VERY RAPIDLY RISING HERE.

QUITE A HIGH SPEED.

Narrator: THIS AIR CURRENT
IS STRONG ENOUGH

TO PUSH SMOKE UP
AND OUT OF THE SPIRE.

IT'S EVEN FASTER THAN MODERN
AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS.

THIS PART OF THE HISTORICAL
VENTILATION SYSTEM

WOULD'VE REALLY WORKED
QUITE WELL.

Narrator: CLEAN AIR FLOWED IN
THROUGH THE TOPS

OF THE TALLEST TOWERS TO AVOID
THE POLLUTION OF THE CITY.

GIANT, 10-FOOT FANS DREW
FRESH AIR THROUGH HUGE TUNNELS

IN THE BASEMENT AND PUMPED IT

TO HUNDREDS OF ROOMS
ACROSS THE PALACE.

BELOW THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
A GAUZE FILTER PURIFIED THE AIR,

A WATER SPRAY MOISTENED IT,
AND HOT COILS MADE IT WARM

BEFORE RELEASING IT
INTO THE CHAMBER.

OLD AIR RUSHED OUT
THROUGH THE CEILINGS

AND FUNNELED THROUGH THE SPIRE.

HERE, THE AIR RISING
FROM THE CENTRAL LOBBY

LIFTED IT FROM THE BUILDING.

TODAY, THE HUGE HEATING
AND VENTILATION TUNNELS

IN THE BUILDING
HAVE BEEN REPURPOSED

AND ARE EQUIPPED
WITH MODERN UTILITIES.

BUT ADAM STILL FINDS TRACES

OF THIS PIONEERING SYSTEM
THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.

THIS IS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL
VENTILATION HATCHES,

WHICH WERE CONTROLLED
BY AN ARMY OF PEOPLE

IN THESE UNDERGROUND TUNNELS.

AND THIS WAS USED TO ALLOW
THE FRESH AIR INTO THE TUNNELS

AND TO BE SUBSEQUENTLY WARMED

AND DISTRIBUTED
THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.

Narrator:
THIS VENTILATION SYSTEM EVOLVED

AS TIME
AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRESSED,

SOMETIMES INVOLVING
SOME BIZARRE GADGETS.

WELL, THIS IS THE PERISCOPE,
WHICH WAS INCORPORATED

IN THE POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION
OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Narrator: THIS PIECE
OF SUBMARINE TECHNOLOGY

HAD A UNIQUE USE.

Watrobski:
AND IF YOU LOOK THROUGH IT,

YOU CAN SEE QUITE CLEARLY
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THERE.

I CAN SEE THE SPEAKER'S CHAIR,

AND I CAN SEE THE BENCHES
AT THE SIDE.

Narrator: WHOEVER SAT HERE
WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTROL

THE BUILDING'S AIR-CONDITIONING.

Watrobski: THE IDEA OF
A PERISCOPE IS A FABULOUS IDEA,

SO THAT WHOEVER WAS CONTROLLING
THE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM HERE

COULD ACTUALLY SEE, LIVE,
WHAT WAS HAPPENING STRAIGHTAWAY

BEFORE THE ADVENT
OF CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION.

Narrator: TODAY, THE PERISCOPE
IS NO LONGER IN USE.

INGENIOUS ENGINEERING ENABLED
PARLIAMENT'S RESIDENTS

TO STAY WARM AND PROVIDED THEM
WITH FRESH AIR TO BREATHE.

THE FINISHING TOUCH WAS

TO MAKE THE HOUSES
OF PARLIAMENT BEAUTIFUL.

IT IS BRITAIN'S
MOST PRESTIGIOUS BUILDING,

AND THE VICTORIANS INSISTED IT
BE SPECTACULAR INSIDE AND OUT.

*

IN THE CENTRAL LOBBY,
STONEMASON ANDY MIDWINTER

IS MAKING SURE
IT STAYS THAT WAY.

WE'RE DOING EXACTLY THE SAME
AS WHAT THE VICTORIANS DID.

Narrator:
THE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS,

WOOD CARVINGS, AND STATUES
MUST ALL BE LOOKED AFTER.

BUT WITH OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE

PASSING THROUGH PARLIAMENT
EVERY YEAR,

IT'S THE GOTHIC FLOOR TILES
THAT NEED THE MOST ATTENTION.

Midwinter: ORIGINALLY,
WHEN THEY WERE FIRST LAID,

THEY'D BE QUITE A VIBRANT COLOR.

OVER THE YEARS, BASICALLY,
THE PATTERN STARTS ERASING.

Narrator:
ANDY MUST CAREFUL CUT

EVERY SINGLE TILE
OUT OF THE FLOOR.

WE USE, LIKE,
A LITTLE TILE CUTTER

WITH A NICE, THIN BLADE.

SO, WHAT WE LITERALLY DO,
CUT BETWEEN THE TWO TILES

SO WE RELEASE THE PRESSURE
AROUND THE SIDES OF THE TILES,

AND THEN WE'LL JUST GET
A HAMMER AND A CLAW

AND GENTLY PUT IT
UNDERNEATH THE TILE

AND GIVE IT A COUPLE OF TAPS.

AND THE TILE SHOULD GENTLY LIFT
WITHOUT DAMAGE.

Narrator:
HIS NEXT JOB IS TO REPLACE

EACH ORIGINAL TILE
WITH AN EXACT REPLICA.

Midwinter:
THIS IS A BRAND-NEW TILE

WHICH HAS BEEN MADE SPECIFICALLY
FOR THIS FLOOR.

THE DESIGN IS EXACTLY THE SAME
AS THE ORIGINAL PUGIN DESIGN,

RIGHT DOWN TO, LIKE, THE LITTLE
DOTS, THE COLORS, EVERYTHING.

Narrator:
RE-CREATING THESE VICTORIAN
TILES HASN'T BEEN EASY.

THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS
DON'T EXIST NO MORE.

Narrator: A MODERN MANUFACTURER
HAD TO REPRODUCE THESE TILES

ONE BY ONE,
MATCHING THE PATTERNS BY EYE.

IT'S BEEN A SLOW PROCESS.

Midwinter: IT HAS BEEN ABOUT
SIX YEARS IN THE MAKING.

THEY ARE HANDMADE.

EVEN THE VERY SIMPLE SORT
OF TILES, IT STILL TAKES SKILL.

IT'S AN ART FORM IN ITSELF.

Narrator:
AND THESE MODERN REPLACEMENTS

EVEN IMPROVE
ON THE VICTORIAN MODELS.

THEY ARE FIRED
AT A MUCH HIGHER TEMPERATURE

THAN THE ORIGINALS
WOULD'VE BEEN.

MAKES THE TILE A MUCH,
MUCH HARDER TILE.

Narrator: ALL THAT'S LEFT IS
TO LAY THEM IN THE FLOOR.

IT'S A HUGE JOB.

THE TILES COVER AN AREA
THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.

ON AVERAGE, ONE PANEL,

I THINK IT'S 714 TILES,

AND WE'VE DONE 10 PANELS,
12 PANELS.

I'VE SET, MYSELF,
OVER 5,000 TILES.

AND WE'VE GOT MANY,
MANY MORE TO GO.

Narrator: WHEN ANDY IS FINISHED,
THE SPLENDOR

OF THE VICTORIANS' VISION
WILL SHINE THROUGH AGAIN.

*

THANKS TO A DEDICATED TEAM
OF EXPERTS

WORKING ACROSS THE BUILDING,
THIS AGING MEGA PALACE

CAN EXPECT
TO GROW OLD GRACEFULLY

AND SURVIVE HUNDREDS OF YEARS
INTO THE FUTURE.

ITS REMARKABLE ROOF...

HIGH-PRECISION CLOCK,

AND UNIQUE VENTILATION SYSTEM --

ALL EVIDENCE OF A BUILDING
LIGHT-YEARS AHEAD OF ITS TIME...

A TRUE MASTERPIECE
OF THE VICTORIAN AGE...

AND ONE OF THE MOST
AWE-INSPIRING BUILDINGS

EVER CREATED.

*