![]() ![]() A lighter hammer was fitted and the bell rotated to present an undamaged section to the hammer. A short time later, in September 1859, Big Ben cracked. Then there’s the incredible architectural detail of the tower and its four massive clocks that even today are accurate to the minute and used by old-time Londoners to sync their watches with.īig Ben first rang across Westminster on. The tower’s historical significance is the primary reason for what makes it such a wonderful thing to see on a visit to London. It holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower. ![]() It is officially known as Elizabeth Tower since 2012 in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Why is the Big Ben clock tower a famous landmark?īig Ben is over 150 years old and is one of London’s famous landmarks. 1 Why is the Big Ben clock tower a famous landmark?.No foreign visitors are permitted inside, so any British citizen who hasn’t seen it yet don’t know how much of an exclusive opportunity they have. In fact, if you are waiting to take an internal tour of Big Ben, you have to be from the UK. Going outside will provide a much louder sound, despite the buildings being attached.įinally, just who are the owners of Big Ben? Every tax paying citizen of the UK! The building is owned by the citizens of the country it resides in, much like the entire Palace of Westminster. Surprisingly, it is actually much quieter inside the Palace of Westminster. It can be heard for miles in and around London. If you were to stand right next to the bells as they chimed, your entire body would vibrate. The chimes could actually be changed, yet it would likely not go well in the eyes of the British public, who have long listened to the famous chime in times of celebration, such as New Year’s Day and the London Olympics.Īs you can imagine, the chimes are rather loud. They chime every quarter of an hour, playing the world famous Westminster chimes. There are also four nameless quarter bells inside the belfry. ![]() There is currently no way of ever knowing for sure with the mysterious origin of the name adding to Big Ben’s history. Others claim it is more likely to be Benjamin Hall, a civil engineer who oversaw the installation of Big Ben. There are a few suggestions as to where the name came from, with British heavyweight boxer Benjamin Caunt. As it is the name for the actually giant bell inside, many have assumed by extension it is the name of the entire tower. No one is actually sure about the naming of Big Ben. The first ever chiming from the clock and bell came that same year, on July 11 th. The bell Big Ben was first cast in 1858, with the clock face being completed in 1859. Many parts of Big Ben are over 150 years old, making it one of the oldest and best-maintained clock towers in the world. ![]() It also holds the record for being the second largest four-faced chiming clock in the world, only behind the Minneapolis City Clock. The Clock Tower is attached to the Palace of Westminster, which is the home to the UK government, but the entire tower is commonly referred to as Big Ben by most Brits. Until 2012 it was known as simply the Clock Tower until it was officially renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee celebration. Whilst commonly known as Big Ben, this is actually the name of the bell that resides within the clock tower. The first thing worth mentioning is the proper name of the clock tower. ![]()
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