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INTRODUCTION
Big Ben is one of the most famous clock towers in the world. Located directly next to the House of Parliament in central London, this tower is one of the most recognizable symbols of the English capital internationally. On this website we reveal why it is called Big Ben, what makes its melody so special and many other interesting details about London's Big Ben.
LOCATION
Big Ben is located in the center of London, in the Palace of Westminster (Parliament), directly next to the River Thames. On the other side of the river we find the London Eye, both linked by the Westminster Bridge from where you can enjoy one of the best views of both monuments.
Located in London's St. James neighborhood, Big Ben is within walking distance of most of the city's other attractions. Westminster Abbey is just a few minutes away and the Tate Museum and St.Pauls Cathedral are just a quarter of an hour away on foot. The same goes for Buckingham Palace, which is a 15-minute walk through St. James Park.
HISTORY
The history of what everyone should call Elizabeth Tower begins in 1834 with the great fire of the Palace of Westminster, seat of the British Parliament at that time. A new building was built to which, 10 years later, it was decided to include an imposing tower that would have a large clock that tells the time to the entire city.
Thus, on May 31, 1859, the hands of the clock came to life and the first bell rang high above London. George Airy, astronomer royal at the time, gave instructions that the first strike of the bell would mark the time. In its beginnings it was synchronized with the Greenwich Observatory by means of a telegraph.
WHY IS IT CALLED BIG BEN?
Although we commonly refer to the entire tower as Big Ben, this name actually corresponds only to the clock bell.
According to history, the name Big Ben derives from Big due to its imposing size and Ben, in honor of Benjamin Hall, the English Secretary of Labor who ordered the construction of the building.
A clock with English punctuality
It is one of the most reliable watches that exist, as it is capable of withstanding inclement weather such as snow or wind, and even withstood German bombing during World War II, keeping its punctuality intact.
Although there are few occasions in which Big Ben has suffered incidents in its punctuality, English citizens will not be able to forget that New Year's Eve in 1962 in which they entered the new year 10 minutes late due to some technical failures that occurred in Big Ben.
Would you like to hear the chimes of Big Ben?
Enter the following link that will take you to a video, enjoy it! :
#https://youtu.be/yjY7ICwDQ2Y
10 Curious facts about Big Ben
- Each sphere is seven meters in diameter.
- The minute hands are 4.2 meters long (14 feet) and weigh about 100 kg (220 pounds, including counterweights).
- The numbers are approximately 60 cm (23 inches) long.
- There are 312 pieces of glass in each watch face.
- A special light above the clock faces lights up when parliament is in session.
- The Latin words below the clock face read DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM, meaning "O Lord, keep our Queen Victoria I safe."
- Big Ben's timekeeping is strictly regulated by a stack of coins placed on a huge pendulum.
- Big Ben has rarely stopped ringing. Even after a bomb destroyed the House of Commons during World War II, the clock tower survived and Big Ben continued to strike the hour.
- The chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC on December 31, 1923, a tradition that continues to this day.
In June 2012, the House of Commons announced that the clock tower would be renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
In June 2012, the House of Commons announced that the clock tower would be renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
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