Listen to the bells ringing…
- Big Ben is the nick name of the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, London, and specifically the bell of the clock. The origin of the nick name is uncertain.
- Big Ben’s official name is the Elizabeth Tower, only recently renamed from “Clock Tower” in 2012.
- The Big Ben, a free-standing clock tower, is the third tallest in the world, and holds the largest four faced clock that chimes.
- Big Ben was completed in 1858 and has become the symbol of London and England.
- Big Ben is named after Queen Elizabeth II, as a tribute to her in her Diamond Jubilee year.
Big Ben
Image courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee/ Free Digital Photos
- Big Ben measures 96 meters (315 feet) in height, around the size of a 16 story building.
- Although Big Ben is a popular tourist attraction, it is only open for those who are residents of the United Kingdom.
- The Big Ben has a tilt that can be seen by the naked eye, and it currently tilts a further 0.9 mm each year due to nearby tunnels.
- On 27 May, 2005, Big Ben’s clock mysteriously stopped at the time of 10:07 pm and again at 10:20 pm, stopping for 90 minutes.
- Big Ben consists of one main bell, and four quarter bells which play play G#, F#, E and B notes.
Bibliography:
Big Ben 4 February 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben>
