Big Ben

For other uses, see Big Ben (disambiguation).

Big Ben
Big Ben in June 2022
Map
Alternative namesClock Tower
Elizabeth Tower
General information
TypeClock tower
Architectural styleGothic Revival
LocationWestminster, London, England
Coordinates51°30′03″N 0°07′28″W / 51.5007°N 0.1245°W / 51.5007; -0.1245
Completed31 May 1859; 165 years ago (1859-05-31)
Height316 feet (96 m)
Technical details
Floor count11
Design and construction
Architect(s)Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin
Website
www.parliament.uk/bigben/

Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster,[1][2] and, by extension, for the clock tower itself,[3] which stands at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England.[4] Originally known simply as the Clock Tower, it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The clock is a striking clock with five bells.[5]

The tower was designed by Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin in a Perpendicular Gothic Revival style and was completed in 1859. It is elaborately decorated with stone carvings and features symbols related to the four nations of the United Kingdom and the Anglo-Welsh Tudor dynasty. A Latin inscription celebrates Queen Victoria, in whose reign the palace was built.[6] The tower stands 316 feet (96 m) tall, and the climb from ground level to the belfry is 334 steps. Its base is square, measuring 40 feet (12 m) on each side. The dials of the clock are 22.5 feet (6.9 m) in diameter.

The clock uses its original mechanism and was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world upon its completion.[7] It was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison and George Airy, the Astronomer Royal, and constructed by Edward John Dent and Frederick Dent. It is known for its reliability, and can be adjusted by adding or removing pre-decimal pennies from the pendulum. The Great Bell was cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and weighs 13.5 long tons (13.7 tonnes; 15.1 short tons).[4] Its nickname may be derived from Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw its installation, or heavyweight boxing champion Benjamin Caunt. There are four quarter bells, which chime on the quarter hours.

Big Ben is a British cultural icon. It is one of the most prominent symbols of the United Kingdom and parliamentary democracy,[8] and it is often used in the establishing shot of films set in London.[9] The clock tower has been part of a Grade I listed building since 1970 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.[10] The clock and tower were renovated between 2017 and 2021, during which the bells remained silent with few exceptions.[11]

  1. ^ Andersson, Jasmine (29 October 2022). "When do the clocks go back? Big Ben prepares for first change in five years". BBC News. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  2. ^ "West Dial re-connected to the Great Clock". UK Parliament. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  3. ^ Fowler, p. 95.
  4. ^ a b "The Story of Big Ben". Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  5. ^ "West Dial re-connected to the Great Clock". UK Parliament. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  6. ^ Hartland, Nicole (15 March 2021). "Leek, Thistle, Shamrock and Rose: Symbols of the UK and the Elizabeth Tower". www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  7. ^ Excell, Jon (5 July 2016). "Why is Big Ben falling silent?". BBC News.
  8. ^ "Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret's Church". UNESCO.
  9. ^ "Big Ben in films and popular culture". The Daily Telegraph. 8 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022.
  10. ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "UNESCO World Heritage Centre - World Heritage List". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  11. ^ Fowler, Susanne (12 April 2021). "What Does It Take to Hear Big Ben Again? 500 Workers and a Hiding Place". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 April 2021.