![]() ![]() From its impressive architecture to the famous bells that resonate across the city, we’ll explore the stories, legends, and remarkable feats that have made Big Ben an international icon. Prepare to be enthralled by a collection of facts about Big Ben that will deepen your appreciation for this beloved British landmark.īig Ben has become an iconic symbol of the city and an enduring symbol of British culture. Discover surprising details about its construction, the legendary bells that chime within, and the cultural significance that has made Big Ben a symbol of London. Source: .Uncover the fascinating history and intriguing facts surrounding one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, Big Ben. There are four quarter bells which chime every quarter hour. If The Big Ben was built today, it would have cost US$200,000. The clock gains 2/5 of a second from each penny added.ĭuring World War 2, the lights of the tower were dimmed so as not to give a reference to German bombers. If the clock is running slow, a penny is removed from the pendulum. ![]() If the clock is running fast, a penny is added to the pendulum. Edward Dent had started the initial design, but Denison ended up making multiple modifications to it, so he is actually credited as the chief designer.Įach year, the clock is adjusted using a penny. The clock mechanism was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, a lawyer (and not a clock maker). The first recorded radio broadcast of the Big Ben chimes was on the new year of 1924. Also known as “Big Ben”, this nickname was commonly bestowed in society to anything that was the heaviest in its class.īig Ben’s clock lost four-and-a-half minutes in August 1949 when a flock of starlings perched on a minute hand. The second theory is that it was named after a heavyweight boxing champion at that time, Benjamin Caunt. The Latin words under the clock-face read “DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM”, which means “O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First”. On Remembrance Day every year, the bells chimes to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month when the armistice that ended World War I took effect. The bell tolls every 15 minutes and can be heard from a distance as far as 12 kilometres! The bell is officially called the “Great Bell”, but gets its nickname, “Big Ben” from Sir Benjamin Hall, who became the first Commissioner of Public Works in 1855 and oversaw the later stages of the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament. The hour hands are 9ft long, the minute hands are 14ft long, and the numerals are 2ft high. ![]() As clock towers became more common, the designers realised that a dial on the outside of the tower would allow the townspeople to read the time whenever they wanted.īelow are listed some more interesting facts about this magnificent structure:Īccording to a survey, the Londoners voted the Big Ben as the most popular tourist attraction. The myth is that the name “Big Ben” was given by the Londoners themselves.Ĭlock towers are now a days mostly admired for their aesthetics but there is a long lost time when it had an actual use! Clock towers were placed near the centres of towns and were often the tallest structures there. Big Ben, often extended to refer to the clock and clock tower in London, is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock. The tower is officially known as Elizabeth Tower, renamed to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012. ![]()
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