In 1844, it was decided the new buildings for the Houses of Parliament should include a tower and a clock.Ī massive bell was required and the first attempt (made by John Warner & Sons at Stockton-on-Tees) cracked irreparably. The Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire in 1834. In June 2012 the House of Commons announced that the clock tower was to be renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
The latin words under the clock face read DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM, which means "O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First". The chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC on 31 December 1923, a tradition that continues to this day. Even after a bomb destroyed the Commons chamber during the Second World War, the clock tower survived and Big Ben continued to strike the hours. Big Ben's timekeeping is strictly regulated by a stack of coins placed on the huge pendulum. A special light above the clock faces is illuminated when parliament is in session. There are 312 pieces of glass in each clock dial. The numbers are approximately 60cm (23in) long. The minute hands are 4.2 metres long (14ft) and weigh about 100kg (220lbs, including counterweights). The clock tower looks spectacular at night when the four clock faces are illuminated. Technically, Big Ben is the name given to the massive bell inside the clock tower, which weighs more than 13 tons (13,760 kg). On Remembrance Day, the chimes of Big Ben are broadcast to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.Ī light in the clock tower tells when the House of Commons is in session.The Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, commonly called Big Ben, are among London's most iconic landmarks and must-see London attractions. The clock tower is the focus of New Year celebrations in the United Kingdom, with radio and TV stations tuning to its chimes to welcome the start of the year. "O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First" “Domine salvam fac Reginam nostrum Victoriam Primam” The pendulum is 3.9m long, weighs 300Kg and beats once every 2 seconds.Īt the base of each clock face is a Latin inscription, in gilt letters. The hour hand is 9 ft (2.7m) long, and the minute hand is 14 ft (4.3m) long. The clock faces are 23 feet (7m) in diameter. The four faces of the clock are 55 meters above ground. The clock became operational on 7th September 1859. The Big Ben bell has the following measurements:ĩ'-0" diameter, 7'-6" high, and weighs 13 tons 10 cwts 3 qtrs 15lbs (13,760 Kg)īig Ben chimes every 15 minutes and the sound can be heard for a radius of up to 5 miles.īig Ben is the world's largest four-faced chiming clock. They referred to anything to do with the House of Commons as news from 'St Stephens', as originally MP's used to sit in St Stephen's Hall.īig Ben is situated on the banks of the River Thames on the north side of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London. 
It was called St Stephen's Tower by Victorian journalists. The clock tower is now called The Elizabeth Tower. Officially "Big Ben" does not refer to the clock tower but instead to the huge thirteen ton Great Bell located at the top of the 320-foot-high tower. The name Big Ben is often used to describe the clock tower that is part of the Palace of Westminster. Big Ben is one of the most famous landmarks in the world.
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