*Big
Ben*
Big
Big Ben is one of the most famous monuments in London.
It is one of the most beautiful objects in the city
especially at night when the clock faces light up.
When Parliament is in session a light shines above the
face of the clock.
The four dials on the clock
are 23 square feet. The minute hand is a total of 14
feet long. Each number is 2 feet high. There is a
stack of coins on Big Ben's pendulum. Big Ben has been
keeping the time in London for many years and has
rarely ever stopped.
The
The name Big Ben does not refer to the clock tower but to
the thirteen ton bell hung inside the tower. The bell was
named after the first commissioner of works, Sir Benjamin
Hall. The bell originally came from the old Palace of
Westminster. It was given to the Dean of St. Paul's by
William III. Before the bell returned to its present
home, Big Ben the bell was refashioned in Whitechapel in
1858. The BBC first broadcast the chimes on December 31st
1923. There is a microphone turret connected to the
Broadcasting House. During
During World War II the House of Commons was
destroyed, but the clock tower remained intact. Big
Ben continued to keep the time for London. Its unique
sound was broadcast to the nation and around the
world. It was a welcome reassurance of hope to all who
heard it. There
There are prison cells in the clock tower where
Members of Parliament can be imprisoned for a breach
parliamentary privilege. This though is rare. The last
recorded case was in 1880.
Big
Big Ben is a very special to London. It has told time for
Londoners for many years. If you are planning a trip to
London, remember to include a visit to the famous Big
Ben. *If you are taking a tour of the Houses of
Parliament, and would like to include climbing Big Ben,
you may be able to arrange this with your
guide.*