Big ben actually is the nick name for the great bell of the clock tower at the north end of the Westminster Palace in London, United Kingdom. the tower is one of London's most famous landmarks. the clock inside the tower was the world's largest when it was installed in the middle of the 19th century. the name a Big Ben actually refers to the clock's hour bell, the largest of the clocks five bells. the other four are used as quarter bells. the following are the facts and history about Big Ben.
The facts about Big Ben :
- the chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC on 31 December 1923, atraditions that continous to this day.
- the numbers are approximately 60cm long
- there are 312 pieces of glass in each clock dial
- the minute hands are 4,2 metres long and weight about 100 kg (including counterweight)
- each dial is 7meter in diameter
- big ben timekeeping is strictly regulated by a stack of coins placed on the huge pendulum
- a special light above the clocks faces is illuminated when parliament is in session
- the latin words under the clockface read DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM which means O Lord, keep save our queen Victoria the first
- in June 2012the house ofcommons announced that the clock tower was to be renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee.
The history about Big Ben :
In 1834 the Westminster Palace was destroyer by fire, so in 1844 the government decided the new buildings for the House of Parliament, include a tower and a clock. a massive bell was required and the 1st attemp cracked irreparably. the metal was melted down and the bell recastin th whitechapel in 1858. on May 1859 Big Ben first rang across Westminster. a short time later in September 1859, Big ben cracked. a lighter hammer was fitted and the bell rotated to present an undamaged section to the hammer. this is the bell as we hear it today.
Big ben, the facts and history
