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What was Big Ben built for?
September 28, 1843
Big Ben/Construction started
What does the Big Ben represent?
High above the Palace of Westminster, the Elizabeth Tower stands constant vigil over the British Houses of Parliament. Atop the massive and famous clock tower sits an even more famous and equally massive landmark, the giant bell Big Ben.
Was Big Ben ever on fire?
Elizabeth Tower, originally referred to as the Clock Tower, but more popularly known as Big Ben, was raised as a part of Charles Barry’s design for a new Palace of Westminster, after the old palace was largely destroyed by fire on 16 October 1834.
What is Big Ben and why is it famous?
Big Ben has been a world-famous symbol of British culture ever since it first rang out on May 31, 1859. Its name refers to the thirteen plus ton bell housed inside the iconic bell tower which measures 315 feet in height and includes 334 steps from the ground level up to the belfry.
What is the name of the bell in Big Ben?
Big Ben. Big Ben, tower clock, famous for its accuracy and for its massive bell. Strictly speaking, the name refers to only the great hour bell, which weighs 15.1 tons (13.7 metric tons), but it is commonly associated with the whole clock tower at the northern end of the Houses of Parliament, in the London borough of Westminster.
Did you know Big Ben chimed during World War II?
In May 1941, the Commons Chamber at Westminster was destroyed by incendiary bombs. Luckily, though, Big Ben and its clock tower were undamaged. In fact, Big Ben was chiming as usual all through the bombing and the rebuilding of the Commons Chamber. Here’s one for your Big Ben fact file. There’s a Latin saying beneath Big Ben’s clock face.
What is Big Ben’s clock called?
Big Ben’s clock faces are called The Big Clock, which is just as thoughtful. Not. One of the first questions many people ask about London’s famous clock is, ‘how did Big Ben get its name?’