Most visitors online was 4107 , on 14 Jan 2023
green fellow in the left photo
It may be a foolish idea, but since those holes seem to show pivots behind them, and are not threaded, could this be a way of allowing the pivots to be oiled without taking the case off? (The hole might have had little plugs originally)
It would be odd, not the best way to oil, and I've never seen the like of this before, but it's all I can think if.
It's just a thought; no doubt some Big Ben expert will know better.
JTD