Monument Restoration

From today, one of London's most famous landmarks will be closed for restoration: The Monument, which commemorates the Great Fire of London in 1666 and the rebuilding of the City of London. This massive Doric column was designed by Sir Christopher Wren - Surveyor General to King Charles II - and his friend Dr Robert Hooke. It stands 202 feet tall (61 of those foreign metre thingies), the exact distance between it and the site in Pudding Lane where the fire began. Restoration will take 18 months and cost £4.5m.