Big Ben London United Kingdom History and Interesting Facts

Big Ben Overview

One of the most unique buildings in the world, Big Ben is located at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London. This tower is actually a clock which was used to see the time in London in the past. It is one of the four largest faceted clocks in the world. The tower's official name was Clock Tower before 2012, but the tower was renamed Elizabeth Tower to celebrate 60 years of Elizabeth II's reign.

Big Ben History

The History of Big Ben is intertwined with that of the Palace of Westminster. In the year 1834, a fire broke out in the Palace of Westminster, due to which it was destroyed. Many architects were invited to renovate this palace, who were also entrusted with the task of submitting some designs for it. Finally a commission was formed in which the best Architects were included, among them Augustus Pugin and Charles Barry.

In the year 1836, Charles Barry prepared a plan which was also supported by Augustus Pugin. He decided to build the Palace of Westminster in the Neo-Gothic style, which also included a bell tower, and on 28 September 1843, he also laid its foundation. Since Charles Barry was not a clock expert, he held a competition in 1846 to find a suitable design for the tower's clock, in which Dummond Beckett Dennis's design was first chosen, but due to some flaws in it, the work was done by Edward John Dent.

When Dent died, his stepdaughter Frederick completed the clockwork in 1854, and in April 1859 it was installed in the clock tower. This great clock tower was opened to the general public on 31 May 1859.

Big Ben Interesting Facts

1. This Historic belfry was named "Big Ben" in the year 1856 by John Warner and his sons and was named after Sir Benjamin Hall. This tower was completed in the year 1859.
2. This Bell tower is one of the 4 tallest minarets in the world with a total height of 96 meters.
3. The Bell used in this bell tower had a total weight of about 16 tons, with a height of about 2.1 meters, which was later broken and replaced by a 16-ton bell with a height of about 61 meters.
4. This Historic belfry was named "Big Ben" in the year 1856 by John Warner and his sons and was named after Sir Benjamin Hall. This tower was completed in the year 1859.
5. This Bell tower is one of the 4 tallest minarets in the world with a total height of 96 meters.
6. The Bell used in this bell tower had a total weight of about 16 tons, with a height of about 2.1 meters, which was later broken and replaced by a 16-ton bell with a height of about 61 meters.
7. The clock face used in this belfry was designed by Augustus Pugin.
8. The diameter of the face of this clock is about 23 feet (7.0 m), in which the numbers are written in Roman counting.
9. The Pendulum used in this tower is about 3 feet (4.0 m) long and about 300 kg. Till heavy.
10. There are 334 steps to reach the top of this tower and no lift facility is also available in it.
11. The Bell rings every 15 minutes, which can be easily heard for about 8 kilometers (5 mi).
12. Every year, the Old English penny (the former British currency) is inserted into it to control the clock speed, a penny is removed to increase the clock speed, and a penny is inserted into it to slow down the clock. Is given.
13. This belfry is tilted slightly towards the north-west about 8.66 inches. According to a report in the year 2003, it is about 1 mm every year. Leaning till.
14. About 6 million people visit London every year, most of whom go there to see this tower.
15. In 2012, on the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the official name of this belfry was changed from Clock Tower to Elizabeth Tower.