Big Ben, who is not Big Ben at all. Big Ben Clock in London - history and description Name of Big Ben

Big Ben (Great Britain) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster in London is known throughout the world as Big Ben. Meetings of the House of Lords and the House of Commons are held in the Palace of Westminster, in the many kilometers of corridors of the palace it is easy to lose the right direction, there is hardly a person who has visited all of its 1200 rooms, but the most famous part of the palace - the clock tower - is known, without exaggeration, to everyone world and is one of the most striking architectural symbols of the city.

The height of the tower is 96 meters, and a narrow spiral staircase of 334 steps is hidden inside it. After passing them all, you can get to a small open area where the famous bell Big Ben is located. It is he who strikes the time every hour, and it is his sounds that are transmitted every hour on BBC radio. It was this bell that gave the name to both the clock and the tower itself.

The bell is large: 2 meters in height and 3 meters at the base. The dimensions of the watch are no less striking: its diameter is 7 meters, and the hands are 2.7 and 4.2 m long.

The clock was put into operation on May 21, 1859 (the tower itself was built a year earlier) and to this day is listed as the largest clock in the world. Their four dials are made of opaline glass, bordered by gilded frames and have a Latin inscription, which means “God save our Queen Victoria”. This clock also has global significance: officially the new year on planet Earth begins with the first strike of Big Ben on January 1.

It is interesting that Londoners living near the Palace of Westminster hear thirteen strikes of the Big Ben bell on New Year's Eve: the effect is due to the fact that the speed of sound is slower than the speed of radio waves.

Unfortunately, the general public does not have the opportunity to climb the Big Ben tower: safety concerns come first. But from time to time members of the press and various important guests of Great Britain get the opportunity to climb it. But even important guests are forced to climb the steps of the stairs on their own: there are no lifts inside the tower.

The Big Ben Clock Tower systematically becomes the “heroine” of many films, personifying the image of London.

Big Ben is one of the most popular places of interest in London and symbols of England. Every year many people visit the capital of Great Britain to see it and take some photos with it in the background. It is thought that Big Ben is a high tower with a very big clock, but that’s not really true.

In fact, this tower is called Saint Stephens Tower, but people, even those who live in the UK, are used to calling it "Big Ben." Actually, Big Ben is the huge bell inside the building. Its weight is about thirteen tons and it rings every hour daily: once at one o"clock, twice at two o"clock and so on. However, people who live near the tower can hear at New Year’s Night how the bell strikes thirteen. It’s considered to be the biggest bell ever made in the country. The bell was firstly used in 1859 and was cracked soon because of the heavy hammer, which struck too strong. After this situation the hammer was changed, but that crack is still there.

There are many hypotheses for the origin of the name “Big Ben”. The most popular one suggests that the bell was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who was responsible for the installation. Some of the people say he was really tall and that’s why this bell is called big, but the majority believe it is called Big because of its size.

Big Ben is one of the best-known landmarks in Europe. Nowadays the word Big Ben connects the bell, the clock and the tower at the same time. The tower is closed to the general public, but people with a "special interest" might offer an excursion for additional payment.

Big Ben is one of the most popular attractions in London and symbols of England. Many people come to the British capital every year to see it and take some photographs in front of it. It is believed that Big Ben is a tall tower with a very large clock, however, this is not entirely true.

In fact, this tower is called St. Stephen's Tower, but people, even those who live in the United Kingdom, are used to calling it Big Ben. In reality, Big Ben is a huge bell that is located inside the building. Its weight is approximately 13 tons, and it rings every hour every day: once at one o'clock in the afternoon, twice at two o'clock in the afternoon, and so on. However, people living near the tower can hear it ring 13 times on New Year's Eve. This bell is considered the largest among those made in this country. The bell first rang in 1859 and soon cracked due to a heavy hammer hitting it too hard. The hammer was replaced after the incident, but the crack is still there.

There are many speculations about the origin of the name Big Ben. According to one of the most popular versions, the bell was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who was responsible for its installation. Some say that it was very tall, which is why the bell was called Big, but most believe that it was so named because of its size.

Big Ben is one of the most famous landmarks in Europe. Today, the word Big Ben combines bell, clock and tower at the same time. The tower is not open to the general public, however, tours are offered for a fee for those with a "special interest".

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When talking about the symbols of England, the famous landmark of London immediately comes to mind - the Big Ben tower.

What is Big Ben

Big Ben is the largest of the six bells in the Palace of Westminster. Many people think that this is the name of the clock tower in London, but in fact this is the name of the 13-ton bell that is located inside it, behind the dial.

Big Ben's official name was the "Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster". In 2012, by decision of the British Parliament, this landmark of England was renamed the Elizabeth Tower (in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s reign).

Despite other names, the name "Big Ben" remains the most popular and is used to generically refer to the tower, clock and bells.

All about Big Ben: history and description

The clock tower was built in Westminster in 1288 and at that time had a completely different appearance.

In 1834, there was a huge fire in the Palace of Westminster and everything burned down. Its restoration was undertaken by Charles Barry, together with the architect Augustus Welby Pugin, who designed the current clock tower in a neo-Gothic style. In 1859, when Big Ben was built, the clock was launched and to this day it accurately keeps time.

There are two popular versions of who the London clock is named after. The first version goes like this: the tower got its name in honor of Benjamin Hall - the one who built Big Ben, or rather supervised the construction, he was quite large in build and was often called Big Ben. Another version of why the clock tower is called this way is in honor of the popular heavyweight boxer Benjamin Count.

Height of Big Ben

The tower and spire measure 320 feet (96.3 meters). To imagine what Big Ben looks like, imagine the height of a 16-story building.

The tower has no elevators or lifts, so it is not open to the public. Sometimes exceptions are made to this rule, and then visitors climb 334 steps to get to the top.

Watch

The clock on Big Ben in London is still the largest in the world. The diameter of the dial is 7 meters. The length of the hands is 2.7 and 4.2 meters.

The clock mechanism is considered the standard of reliability; its total weight is 5 tons. The watchmaker Edward John Dent was responsible for its assembly and completed the work in 1854. A fundamentally new double three-stage movement was created, which allows for better separation of the pendulum and the five-ton clock mechanism.

The clock is so reliable that even during the Second World War, when German bombing damaged two dials and the roof of the tower, it did not disrupt its operation. Thus, this British landmark has become a symbol of the accuracy and reliability of all things English. At the bottom of each dial is the inscription “God Save Our Queen Victoria”, which is also absolutely in the English spirit.

13 tons - that’s how much Big Ben weighs (the largest bell in the Palace of Westminster).
The London clock is the international time standard and is also considered the largest four-sided striking clock in the world.
The accuracy of the clock is adjusted using a 1 penny coin (if necessary, a coin is placed on the pendulum and its movement slows down by 0.4 seconds per day).
In the bell tower, in addition to Big Ben (which sounds every hour), there are four more quarter notes that ring every quarter of an hour. A melody consisting of 20 consecutive Cambridge chimes is issued, each quarter of an hour having its own composition of chimes.
The British celebrate the New Year to the sounds of Big Ben, and also mark all mournful events and moments of silence.
News programs in England begin with a photograph of this tower.
Almost all documentaries and feature films about England use an image of Big Ben in their screensavers.
Once upon a time, Big Ben housed a prison for parliamentarians who behaved violently at meetings; the last prisoner was Emmeline Pankhurst, she fought for women's rights. In honor of this woman, a monument was erected in Parliament Square, where Big Ben stands.

Information about Big Ben: where it is located, address on the map

Location: London, Parliament Square

Address: Palace of Westminster, Old Palace Yard, London SW1

Nearest metro station: Westminster on the Circle

How to get there by bus: to Parliament Square or to the Whitehall Street (Trafalgar Square) stop.

If you suddenly get tired of the imposing architecture of the Kingdom of Great Britain, you can visit one of the very first Madame Tussauds museums, with a unique collection of wax figures.

Everyone knows in which country Big Ben is located - the symbol of London and Great Britain. Some believe that Big Ben is the clock on the tower of the Palace of Westminster, others believe that this is the name of the tower itself. But in fact, Big Ben is a huge bell that strikes the time in the main clock of the capital of Great Britain.

The main chimes of London were designed back in the 40s of the 19th century. Charles Barry decided to add a clock tower to it during the reconstruction. The government allocated funds for its construction on the condition that the most accurate clock in the capital would be located there, and its ringing would be heard in every corner of London.

Big Ben Clock Tower

The design of the tower was proposed by Augustus Pugin, who also designed the dial. The tower, made in the neo-Gothic style, like the rest of the Palace of Westminster, rises 96 meters above the ground. It was installed on a 15-meter concrete foundation and topped with a spire.

At a height of 55 meters, according to Pugin's design, the largest clock not only in London, but throughout the world was to be installed.

The tower in which Big Ben is located was called the "Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster" until 2012, but on the Queen's Birthday it was renamed the "Elizabeth Tower".

Big Ben clock in London

The watch dial was assembled from 312 pieces of opal glass and enclosed in a steel frame with a diameter of 7 meters. After installation, the discs were gold plated around the edges. Under the dial on each side of the tower there is an inscription in Latin: “ God save our Queen Victoria».

The minute hands of the clock (4.2 meters long) are made of copper, and the hour hands (2.7 meters) are made of cast iron. A complex clock mechanism weighing 5 tons was assembled inside the tower itself, and a pendulum weighing 300 kg was placed under the clock room.

E.D. was responsible for the creation of the clock mechanism. Dent. He developed a complex mechanical system with high precision. A special caretaker monitors the correct functioning of the watch. The mechanism is checked and lubricated every two days.

Big Ben Bell

At the request of the London Parliament, the bell of the new clock had to surpass all existing ones in Great Britain in terms of sound volume.

Its creation was entrusted to the famous master E.B. Denison. He dreamed of making his creation unique and outdoing the 10-ton York bell “Great Peter”. Denison changed the usual recipe to cast the largest bell in the Kingdom, weighing 16 tons.

This hulk was delivered to the tower on a cart drawn by 16 horses. Alas, the bell could not withstand the blows inflicted by a heavy hammer and cracked. It was decided to remove it and replace it with a new one, weighing 13.7 tons, and also change the hammer to a lighter one.

But this did not help either - the bell cracked again. This time they decided to limit themselves to repairs: a cut was made so that the crack could not spread further, and Big Ben itself was turned 90 degrees.

And so, on May 31, 1859, the whole of London heard the resonating ringing of the new chimes, and for over 150 years Big Ben has been sounding regularly every hour. In addition to Big Ben himself, several small bells chime the Cambridge chime: ": " At this hour the Lord protects me, and His strength will not allow anyone to stumble».

The precision of Big Ben's ringing is simply amazing: the first strike of the bell occurs in the first second of the hour. This is strictly monitored by special workers, and if the clock suddenly starts to lag, an old English penny is placed on the pendulum, speeding up the clock by 2.5 seconds. per day. If Big Ben starts to overtake real time, the coin is removed.

Big Ben: name and its legends

There are several versions of why the bell was named Big Ben. According to one of them, he was named after Lord Benjamin Hall.

According to legend, Sir Hall began to give a terribly boring speech at a meeting about the name of the bell, and someone shouted: “ Call the bell Big Ben and put an end to this hopeless business!" The parliamentarians laughed and decided to do just that. The funny thing is that Sir Hall was called Big Ben because of his solid build and sonorous voice.

Attractions: Big Ben and Palace of Westminster

Another version of the origin of the name is less interesting. It is believed that the bell was named after the famous boxer of those times.

How to get inside the Big Ben clock tower?

This question interests many people. Alas, foreign tourists can only look at the Elizabeth Tower from the outside. Visiting the clock mechanism is only available to British citizens with special permission.

Residents of the Kingdom can climb 334 steps, look at the clockwork from the inside, and even look at London from a height of 62 meters.

Where is Big Ben?

Big Ben is located in the very center of London, it is simply impossible to miss it.

Metro station: Westminster.

Bus: all with a stop near Parliament Square

Big Ben website: www.parliament.uk/bigben

Big Ben (Big Ben) is the nickname of the main bell of the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster.

Famous bell

There is a tradition of baptizing church bells and giving them the name of a saint, but this bell most likely received its nickname in honor of Sir Benjamin Hall, who supervised the installation of the bell. Weighing almost 14 tons and standing three meters high, it is the second largest bell in Great Britain after the Great Paul, the bell of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

Over time, Big Ben began to be called not only the bell, but also the clock and the entire clock tower. The tower, the last work of the architect Augustus Pugin, was built in 1858 in the neo-Gothic style. This is part of the Palace of Westminster, which was rebuilt after the fire of 1834. The height of the tower is 96.3 meters. Unfortunately, foreign tourists are not allowed inside the tower, but UK citizens can visit it on an organized tour with their Member of Parliament. There is no elevator in the tower; 334 stone steps lead up.

Symbol of London

The tower clock is the world's largest chimes with 4 dials. The diameter of their dial is about 7 meters, the length of the hour hand is 2.7 meters, the length of the minute hand is 4.3 meters. The watch is famous for its precision. Near the top of the pendulum are kept antique one-penny coins, which are used to adjust the mechanism. It is enough to place a coin on the pendulum, and the clock will change by 0.4 seconds per day. On New Year's Eve 1962, heavy snowfall caused the hands to ice up, they began to move more slowly, and the pendulum, as intended, was disconnected from the main mechanism to avoid breakdowns and swung idle. Big Ben heralded the year 1962 ten minutes late.

Big Ben has become the calling card of London and its symbol. If a film needs to show that the action takes place in Great Britain, the silhouette of Big Ben looms in the background. It is used in the title sequence for a news programme, and the chimes serve as the call sign for the BBC.

Big Ben is officially named after St. Stephen.
The bell of Big Ben has a crack, which causes the specific resonating sound it produces.
Due to changes in ground conditions, the tower gradually deviates away from the vertical.
The tower bears inscriptions in Latin: “Domine Salvam fac Reginam nostram Victoriam primam” (“God save our Queen Victoria I”) and “Laus Deo” (“Praise the Lord”).
Big Ben served as a prison: for example, suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst spent some time in prison here.

On a note

Location: Parliament Square, London.
Nearest tube station: Westminster
Official website: www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/enquiries