Big Ben is the standard of accuracy and the main symbol of London. The legendary clock tower Big Ben in London Big Ben in London interesting facts

Moyan Brenn / flickr.com John Morgan / flickr.com View of Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster from Westminster Bridge (Kosala Bandara / flickr.com) View of Big Ben from the London Eye (Linus Follert / flickr.com ) Norbert Reimer / flickr.com Big Ben Dial (Phil Dolby / flickr.com) Hernán Piñera / flickr.com Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament (Naz Amir / flickr.com) Ben Cremin / flickr.com Davide D'Amico / flickr .com Matt Machin / flickr.com Never House / flickr.com View of Big Ben from the London Eye (Miguel Mendez / flickr.com) Nikos Koutoulas / flickr.com Stròlic Furlàn - Davide Gabino / flickr.com

Big Ben is the main symbol of London and the whole of Great Britain. This attraction has been known all over the world for many years. It is located in the center of London.

Big Ben indicates the official time of the New Year along the Greenwich meridian. England and other countries located along the prime meridian celebrate the holiday first.

Big Ben is the legendary clock tower of the capital of Great Britain, which is one of the buildings of the Palace of Westminster. Why exactly and after whom is it named? Answers to this question vary.

There is a main version that the bell was named after Benjamin Hall, who was supervising the construction and a man of large build. In another version, Big Ben is named after the famous heavyweight boxer, Benjamin Count.

There are other names for this object, for example, the media mentioned it as St. Stephen's Tower. Since 2012, the official name of the attraction is the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster.

Construction of Big Ben

It all started in 1837, after a fire it was necessary to restore the Palace of Westminster. It was planned to build a whole complex of buildings. The tower design was chosen.

View of Big Ben from the London Eye (Miguel Mendez / flickr.com)

The honor of becoming an architect fell to Charles Berry. He asked for funds to make a clock on St. Stephen's Tower. The neo-Gothic style, which gives the charm of Big Ben, was implemented in the design of the tower by Augustus Pugin.

The clock tower was built in 1858. The bell for the tower itself was made in 1856, when there were no clocks yet. Its creator was Edmund Denison, who was entrusted with the important task of surpassing all the bells in Great Britain in terms of sound volume and creating a bell that weighs as much as no other bell in the kingdom has weighed before.

The first bell weighed 14.5 tons, however, it could not withstand the blow of an overly heavy hammer and split due to Edmund Denison's mistake. After this event, a second bell weighing 13.7 tons was cast, which later became known as the Big Ben bell.

Big Ben Clock Tower (John Morgan / flickr.com)

The clock for the tower was designed by the kingdom's astronomer George Airy together with watchmaker Edmund Denison. The astronomer needed high accuracy not only of the clock mechanism itself, but also for the bell to chime the hours exactly to the second.

To do this, it was necessary to check hourly by telegraph with the Greenwich Observatory, so there must always be a caretaker in the tower who monitors the time the clock shows.

To achieve accuracy, a reliable design was also needed that would last for many years. During the installation of the hands, it turned out that they were too heavy, as they were made of cast iron, after which they were remade.

The clock on the tower began operating at the end of May in 1859, and the bell was installed in midsummer. The watch has a double three-stage movement, which makes it very accurate. Their weight is about 5 tons.

Appearance

The size of Big Ben is quite impressive. The height of the clock tower together with the spire is 96.3 meters. The clock mechanism itself begins at an altitude of 55 meters. Big Ben Clock can be seen from four sides.

Big Ben Dial (Phil Dolby / flickr.com)

The length of the clock pendulum is 4 meters and weighs 300 kilograms. The stroke of a clock pendulum is 2 seconds.

The diameter of the dial, made of 312 pieces of opal glass, is 7 meters. It is inscribed in a gilded steel frame.

The length of the large arrow is 4.2 meters, the small one is 2.7 meters. The hour hand is cast iron, the minute hand is made of lighter metal - copper. The roof is made of brick and covered with limestone, and there is a spire on it.

Under each of Big Ben's four dials is the Latin inscription "God Save Queen Victoria the First".

Big Ben as a landmark has many interesting features:

• The clock tower is the second largest in the world in size.
• For a short time, Big Ben was a prison. Only one prisoner has been imprisoned in this tower in its entire history - Emeline Fankhurst.
• Another interesting fact is that it is estimated that the large minute hand of the clock on the tower rotates 190 kilometers per year.
• The watch is very accurate and the time it shows is the reference time. Although, like any other mechanism, errors sometimes occur. But they are small and amount to 1 or 2 seconds in one direction or another.
• The accuracy of the clock is achieved using an old 1 penny coin. It needs to be placed on the pendulum and then the mechanism accelerates by 0.4 seconds per day.
• Big Ben in London strikes every hour and time is counted from it in other countries. His fight is broadcast hourly on BBC radio.

Big Ben is visible on the map as part of the Palace of Westminster on the banks of the Thames. The entire complex of buildings is located next to Parliament, Buckingham Palace and other attractions. Full information about where it is located can be found in tourist guides.

It's no secret that the famous London clock is a landmark that has been very popular for many years. This building is striking in its size and is an integral part of old London.

In the narrow sense, Big Ben refers to the 13-ton bell located inside it, and the structure itself was officially renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honor of the 60th anniversary of the current British monarch on the throne.

Tourists coming to London consider it their duty to visit this attraction or at least look at Big Ben from afar. But “visit” does not mean visiting the tower. Currently, its internal premises are closed to foreigners; sometimes only local officials and representatives of the media have access. Strict measures have been introduced by the authorities for security purposes, and we will discuss the reasons for such restrictions below.

But no bans, even for good reasons, affected the popularity of Big Ben. Travelers from different parts of the world are sure to find a free moment to come here and admire the architectural splendor of the tower. And, of course, check the time: after all, the Big Ben clock is rightfully considered the most accurate in the world!

From the history of Big Ben

Construction of the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster - this was the name it bore before the renaming - began in 1837. The author of the project was the famous English architect Augustus Pugin. At that time, Queen Victoria had just ascended the throne, ruling the British Empire for 63 years. At the same time, the parliament building, which was damaged in 1834 by a severe fire, was reconstructed. The new tower building, located in the northern part of the Palace of Westminster, has enriched its architectural complex and made its appearance even more recognizable.

In terms of its parameters, St. Stephen's Tower (this is the second name of the attraction) is inferior to its “elder sister” - the 98-meter Victoria Tower, which is located in the southwestern part of the palace. Its height together with the spire is 96.3 meters. The first 61 meters of the tower are made of brick, and the outer cladding (siding) is made of Estonian limestone, which has been used in construction for 700 years. The remaining 35.3 meters is a cast iron spire. The base of the tower is a concrete foundation, its depth is 4 m.

Big Ben is also thinner than the Victoria Tower. However, despite its relatively smaller dimensions, it was he who almost immediately won the sympathy of both Londoners and guests of the city. The architect built into the building, built in the Gothic style, a certain charisma that has invariably attracted attention to it for so many years. The master also introduced features of one of his early works - the Scarisbrick Hall tower. Only he never had time to see his own creation during his lifetime: Big Ben became Pugin’s last design work. Soon the architect became seriously ill and died.

The key to Big Ben's popularity lies not only in the features of the tower itself. It is famous, first of all, for its legendary clock, which is located at a height of 55 meters from the surface of the earth. The diameter of the dials enclosed in steel frames is huge: 7 meters. The length of the hands – hour 2.7 m, minute 4.2 meters – is also impressive. For a long time this chronometer was the largest in the world. When the Allen-Bradley Clock Tower was put into operation in Milwaukee (Wisconsin, USA) in 1962, the London celebrity had to give up the palm.

Dials and clockwork

There are four dials on Big Ben - according to the number of cardinal directions, and they, accordingly, “look” to the north, south, west and east. The massive hour hands are cast from an iron-carbon alloy (cast iron), while the minute hands are made from lighter and thinner copper sheet. The dial material is a mineraloid known as Birmingham opal. Only the opal glass in the Big Ben dials is not solid, it is “broken” into 312 separate pieces. This fragmentation or mosaic visually gives them the appearance of windows. But this is not the main thing: these parts are easily accessible, which allows, if necessary, to penetrate inside the dials and carry out inspections or some preventive measures.

The Big Ben clock, which shows Greenwich time, is the most accurate not only in Foggy Albion, but also in the world. How is their flawless operation ensured and maintained? To give an answer, let us turn, as they say, to the origins. The developers of the chronometer were people who had the most distant connection to this matter. Apart from watchmaker Edmund Beckett Denison (and then an amateur), the lawyer George Airey and the royal astronomer had a hand in the project. The assembly of the clock mechanism was carried out by professional watchmaker Edward John Dent, who completed his work in 1854.

The construction of the tower itself was not yet completed at that time, and Master Denison, an exceptionally creative person, decided to experiment. He decided to take a risk and abandon the aperiodic movement of the key with which the watch mechanism was wound. And this despite the fact that its presence was provided for by the project. Instead, he developed a double three-stage movement, which ensured optimal separation of the clock mechanism and the pendulum. The latter was installed inside a wind- and moisture-proof box, which is located below the clock room. It is 3.9 meters long and weighs 300 kilograms - 2 tons less than the mechanism. The pendulum moves every two seconds.

So, let's return to the question of the accuracy of Big Ben's clock. They fall behind from time to time, and that's a well-known fact. But no problems arise because of this. And all thanks to... the English penny. When the chronometer begins to “deceive”, an old coin weighing one and a half grams is simply placed on the pendulum. It is difficult to immediately say which laws of physics are involved, but such an “intervention” is guaranteed to speed up the clock by 2.5 seconds per day. The caretaker, having achieved accuracy in this way, then removes the coin - until next time. The clock mechanism has never failed for 150 years, proving its reliability. Maintenance work is carried out periodically and some parts are replaced. The mechanism is thoroughly lubricated every two days. But overall its design remains unchanged.

During the two world wars, Big Ben's clock operated in a special mode. Thus, in 1916-1918, the bell did not chime the time, and the tower lights were not turned on at night. The lights have not been turned on since September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany treacherously attacked Poland, unleashing the bloodiest world war in human history. True, the clock worked properly, and the bell even rang. In June 1941, during the bombing of London by Nazi aircraft, the main chimes in Great Britain were damaged. But, fortunately, they turned out to be frivolous, and the chronometer continued running. Then he was stopped for a day, but only to repair the St. Stephen's Tower itself.

Clock tower bells

The largest bell in the Elizabeth Tower is the main bell - this is Big Ben, which gives the name to the entire structure. It was cast on August 6, 1856 by the craftsmen of the John Warner and Sons company in the town of Stockton-on-Tees (north-east England). The 16-ton colossus was brought to the tower on a cart harnessed to 16 horses. The event turned out to be so significant that the cart was accompanied by an enthusiastic crowd all the way. But the joy turned out to be premature: when the bell was tested, it cracked. I had to send it for repairs. On April 10, 1858, it was recast at the Whitechapel factory. The second bell turned out to be “thinner”, its weight was 13.76 tons.

It took almost a whole day to lift the giant up the tower. Not only was it heavy, it was also large: height 2.2 meters, width - 2.9 m. And then it happened: on May 31, 1859, Londoners heard the ringing of Big Ben for the first time. And although the weight of the hammer that struck the blows was also reduced, the bell cracked again two months later. They didn’t start casting it again; they limited themselves to “cosmetic” repairs, which lasted 3 years. All this time the bell was silent.

First, they made a cut in the shape of a square, which would prevent further propagation of the crack. Then they turned the bell itself so as not to hit the damage with a hammer. The presence of a defect is precisely what creates that unique resonating sound, thanks to which the ringing of Big Ben cannot be confused with any other. Since then, residents and visitors of the city on the Thames have heard it every 60 minutes, and the first blow of the hammer coincides with the first second of the new hour.

The main bell is surrounded by smaller bells. Every fifteen minutes they play the tune "Westminster Quarters", also known as "Cambridge Chimes" - after the name of St. Mary the Great (Cambridge). They beat out the rhythm of the following saying: “At this hour the Lord protects me, and his strength will not allow anyone to give up.” On December 31, 1923, the chimes of the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster were first heard on BBC radio, now the largest broadcaster in the world in terms of audience reach. Since then, the sound of Big Ben has been heard on BBC Radio twice during the day: at 18:00 and at midnight. Interestingly, it is not broadcast from a pre-prepared recording, but live. This became possible thanks to a microphone installed inside the tower.

origin of name

The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster, St. Stephen's Tower and, finally, Elizabeth's Tower are the official names of the attraction. But where did the name “Big Ben” come from, which also became the most famous? There are several versions about this. Let's look at this in a little more detail.

According to one of them, the bell was named after Lord Benjamin Hall, a gentleman with a large physique and a very loud voice. He allegedly spoke at a special meeting of parliament on the issue of this very name. But he spoke for a very long time, which bored his colleagues. One of the parliamentarians could not stand it and shouted from his seat: “Let's call the bell Big Ben and put an end to this hopeless cause.” And the phrase “Big Ben” is translated from English as “Big Ben”. The meeting participants appreciated the joke; laughter rang out in the hall, which could mean nothing but universal agreement.

Another version links the name of the bell to the name of the then famous heavyweight boxer Benjamin Count. At the level of rumors, it has reached our days that they even wanted to give the “vocal” colossus the name of Queen Victoria, and that one of the members of the upper House of Lords allegedly made such a proposal. Only there was no official confirmation of this in the reports of parliamentary meetings. And even if we assume that such an initiative was nevertheless submitted, then for some reason it was not destined to come to fruition.

The British parliamentarians who decided to build the tower in 1844 insisted that the clock installed on it must certainly become the most accurate in the world. Only under this condition did they agree to provide the necessary funding. From which we can conclude that if the designers could not convince them that this would be the case, then the construction of Big Ben might not have begun.

Big Ben also played the role of... a prison. Parliamentarians who were too rowdy at meetings were imprisoned in the tower. Its last prisoner was Emmeline Pankhurst, a representative of the feminist movement, who fought for the equality of women. There is a monument to her near the Palace of Westminster.

One day, in 1949, Big Ben's clock suddenly fell behind by a full four minutes, which became a real emergency. Everyone began to blame the mechanism: it was old and had not stood the test of time. But it turned out that a flock of starlings was playing pranks and decided to sit right on the minute hand.

The next time - it was the winter of 1962 - the watch was subject to icing. Experts came to the conclusion that mechanically breaking off pieces of ice could damage them, so they decided not to risk it. The caretakers were instructed to disconnect the pendulum from the clock mechanism to prevent major damage. With the onset of a thaw, it was launched again.

However, Big Ben's clock broke one day. They stopped on August 5, 1976 and remained frozen for a full nine months. The reason is the fatigue of the metal from which the torsion bar suspension of the pendulum, which transmitted its load, was made. This accident caused significant damage to the clock mechanism. After eliminating its consequences, the clock was started on May 9, 1977. What happened became a lesson for the future: from now on, maintenance of Big Ben was carried out regularly and more thoroughly. For this purpose, the clock can be stopped for an hour or two. Moreover, such pauses are not recorded as a stop. Minor breakdowns also happened, but rarely.

One more time the weather factor affected the operation of the clock on May 27, 2005. In London the sun was unbearably scorching, and for this reason the mechanism froze twice during the day. True, a direct connection between the heat and the stopping of Big Ben has not been established for certain, but there was simply no other explanation then. Also in 2005, the mechanism was stopped for 33 hours - scheduled technical work was carried out. Their duration became a kind of record. In August 2007, technical work was carried out for the first time without stopping the clock mechanism. They lasted for 6 whole weeks, during which time the craftsmen replaced the bearings and fastening systems of the main bell. And the shooters continued their run with the help of specially connected electric motors.

On January 30, 1965, Britain and the whole world said goodbye to the most famous prime minister in the country's history, Sir Winston Churchill. On this day, the bells of Big Ben did not strike the time. The next time the clock fell silent was on April 30, 1997, the day before the elections to the House of Commons of the British Parliament. And finally, the last stop of the tower clock took place on April 17, 2013, when Baroness Margaret Thatcher was buried. She was the first woman to serve as head of government of the United Kingdom. During her lifetime, she received the nickname “Iron Lady” for her determination in carrying out unpopular reforms.

Each dial bears a gilded Latin inscription: “Domine Salvam fac Reginam nostram Victoriam Primam.” The saying is translated as “God save our Queen Victoria the First.” There is another inscription - along the entire perimeter of the tower, to the right and left of the clock - and it is also in Latin: “Laus Deo” (“Glory to God” or, alternatively, “Praise the Lord”).

When the evening sessions of the British Parliament take place in the Palace of Westminster - by the way, one of the oldest in the world - the lights at the top of the tower are always turned on. Not everyone knows why. Is this a tradition or a symbol of something? More likely, the first one. Victoria came up with it as a way to see with her own eyes whether parliamentarians are really busy with work or just imitating it. The clocks have been illuminated by electric lamps since 1912. Before this, the light source was gas jets, which were tubes with an adjustable gas supply and also equipped with a mechanism to increase the air flow to the burner.

Despite the fact that the Big Ben clock lost its world leadership, as already mentioned, to the Allen-Bradley chronometer in the USA, it still remains the largest four-sided striking clock, because the Americans either forgot to add chiming to their chimes, or they didn't want to.

Big Ben: today

Many foreign tourists dream of visiting the interior of the Elizabeth Tower, but excursions are not held here for them - this is what the authorities decided. Permanent access to Big Ben is allowed to a select circle of high-ranking officials. They climb up a narrow 334-step spiral staircase. Since there is no elevator in the tower, such a climb becomes akin to a feat.

Why does this ban exist? The reason cited is the risk of a terrorist threat: after all, the landmark is part of the architectural complex of the building of the current parliament, the highest representative and legislative body of the country. Meanwhile, tours of Big Ben are conducted from time to time for British citizens. Only the organizer must be none other than a member of the House of Lords or a member of the House of Commons.

The rest can only be content with the appearance of the famous building, taking pictures against its background. When traveling around London, you are likely to come across many smaller copies of Big Ben. The duplicates are a cross between a tower and a grandfather clock in British homes. “Clones” began to be installed at almost all city intersections.

Did you know that Big Ben is gradually tilting? Of course, it is far from the indicators of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, but the fact remains a fact. Since its construction, the condition of the soil has undergone changes, which caused the “fall” of Big Ben. The construction of the underground Jubilee line of the London Underground also played a catalytic role. But the builders reassured us: they foresaw this and therefore nothing terrible happened.

The Elizabeth Tower has today shifted by about 220 mm, which in relation to the height gives a slope of 1/250 in the direction of the northwest. This indicator is also influenced by the external environment: fluctuations in one direction or the other depend on weather conditions and amount to several millimeters.

But despite everything, Big Ben was and remains a significant symbol for Great Britain - like the Moscow Kremlin for Russia, the Eiffel Tower for Paris or the Statue of Liberty for the United States. On the night of December 31 to January 1, Londoners listen live to the chimes, heralding the arrival of the New Year, in order to raise their festive glasses in time.

The image of the tower has long become an independent brand and is widely used in culture and art. Familiar outlines can be found in movies, television shows, comics, computer games, as well as on envelopes, postcards, and various souvenirs.

How to get there

In close proximity to Big Ben is Westminster tube station, which is served by three different lines: the Circle line (yellow), the District line (green) and the Jubilee line (gray). In addition, in the area of ​​Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster there are a huge number of bus routes, including night ones (the letter “N” appears before the route number).

The question of where Big Ben is can be answered in different ways.

One will name the country, another - the city, and someone will remember the exact address.

Let's try to give a detailed answer to the question - where is the Big Ben clock and tell you a lot of interesting things about this world-famous landmark. Information about its location, or how much the bell weighed at the time of casting, or what the height of the tower is, and more, is available on the Internet. For example, Wikipedia, regarding what the most famous tower of the Tower of Big Ben is, gives the following message: “Big Ben is a popular tourist name for the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster.” Therefore, it is located in central London.

Where is Big Ben located - in which country?

Many people ask where Big Ben is located? The tower is located in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. This name was given many years ago to the bell on the huge tower clock, but most often this is the name given to the entire tower.

It is noteworthy how its names changed: initially it bore the name of St. Stephen; in 2012, in honor of the anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the tower was named in her honor.

The chimes on it are the largest in the world.

It is worth noting: The British are famous for their punctuality, where could the most accurate mechanical watches in the world appear if not in this country. A caretaker once almost lost his job for overlooking a one-second lag.

In what city is Big Ben located?

According to a survey, Big Ben is recognized as the most popular attraction. Location in London, the heart of Great Britain. A huge city with an interesting history, it has many traditions, according to one of which, since 1924, the BBC has broadcast the chimes on New Year's Eve.

Big Ben is considered to be the symbol of the city. Over the centuries-old history, the city has been subjected to various tests, changes, and reconstructions, but the Elizabeth Tower survived even during World War II. It is like a calling card of the metropolis; souvenirs in the form of Big Ben are popular among visitors.

The clock tower adorns the center of the British capital. It is a matter of honor for any tourist to take a photo at this historical building. Those who wish can find the tower without difficulty; this historical structure can be seen from different points in this part of London. The emphatically polite London police will tell you the shortest route to the attraction.

Where is Big Ben in London?

Big Ben is part of the Palace of Westminster, where the British Parliament meets. The palace is located in the central part of London, which is called Westminster, on Parliament Square.

Most of the museums and attractions of this ancient city are concentrated here.

Information on how to get to the tower will be important for public transport users. There is a bus stop called Westminster in the immediate vicinity; you can take the metro and get off at the station with the same name. It is quite difficult to find car parking here.

When was Big Ben built?

The tower is made in the neo-Gothic style. Its first version appeared in 1288 during the reign of Edward I.

In 1367, reconstruction took place and a striking clock was installed. But this structure has not survived to this day; in 1834 the building was damaged by fire.

The new project was developed by architects Augustus Pugin and Charles Barry. The construction that took place inside the building was completed in 1858, and a year later the clock mechanism was inaugurated. The tower has a tetrahedral shape, with a dial on each side. This year is considered the year of birth of the famous Clock Tower, the 150th anniversary of which the British celebrated in 2009.

Why is Big Ben called that?

Why was the bell called that? This story interests many. For decades, the British have been calling it that way. But there were other names: initially - Royal Victoria, then simply Victoria, Ben was the third, to which the word Big was later added.

The most common version is that the name was given in honor of Sir Benjamin Hall, a prominent politician of the time and a talented engineer. He was a very big man with a sonorous voice. He supervised the installation of the bell, which bears an inscription testifying to this.

This is interesting: There is a legend that the politician began to give a speech about its name, which turned out to be extremely boring and long. One of the listeners could not stand it and shouted: “Come on, say Big Ben, and we’ll be done with it!” This is still what the British, and the whole world, call the landmark.

Bell

The bell Big Ben has its own biography. Experienced craftsman E.B. Denison took on the task of creating it. He used a new composition to make his creation unique.

In 1856, the master cast a sixteen-ton bell, which had no equal in weight and loudness in the kingdom.

It took 16 horses to deliver this colossus to the tower. But during testing it cracked. The hammer was replaced and the weight was reduced to 13.76 tons. But the crack appeared again and had to be repaired.

Finally, on May 31, 1859, Londoners heard the chimes ringing. Since then, hour after hour, the large bell and its four little assistants have played the Cambridge chimes, invoking the mercy of God. Interestingly, you can hear it while being 8 km from the tower. Moreover, each quarter of an hour has its own melody.

What color is Big Ben?

Various materials were used to build Big Ben. Cannes stone for interior decoration was delivered from Normandy. Roofing iron - from Birmingham.

Enston limestone and granite were used to clad the building. It was originally a warm beige shade, but due to environmental influences the color changed to grey. They tried to replace the Enston stone with the Rutland stone, but it soon also began to change color, and the attempts were abandoned.

How tall is Big Ben?

Big Ben is one of the tallest structures in the world.

The height of the tower itself is 61 m, the spire increases its height to 96.3 m. 54.9 m are separated from the ground by the dials, on which the memory of Queen Victoria remains in the form of the inscriptions “God bless our Queen Victoria.”

There are 334 steps leading to the top of the building to the clock mechanism; there is no elevator in the building. But only service personnel, as well as British citizens with special passes, can climb these steps. The attraction is closed to public access.

Note: In terms of height, Big Ben is one of the world's ten clock towers and ranks seventh.

What can we say about Big Ben today?

The Elizabeth Tower is of great importance to the country. Londoners love and appreciate the main clock of England.

They remind people of the passage of time, herald the arrival of the New Year and mourn with the people of Great Britain in times of great loss. Thus, the chimes stopped during the funerals of Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. And in 1997 the bell fell silent on the eve of the general election.

A photograph of Big Ben is featured on news programs in the country. Interestingly, “Little Big Bens” began to appear in London. One of them can be found near Victoria railway station.

All excursions in London include a visit to the place where Big Ben is located, which is considered almost bad form not to visit. London is changing before our eyes, but it seems that even in a few decades tourists will begin their acquaintance with the British capital with a meeting with Big Ben.

Watch an interesting video about the structure of the Big Ben clock:

Noun, number of synonyms: 2 tower (45) bell (12) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

Big Ben- a large bell on the clock tower of the British Parliament building (weighs 13 tons). The name of the bell also passed on to the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, where Big Ben (Big Ben) was suspended as part of the clock mechanism. Official name… … The fate of eponyms. Dictionary-reference book

Big Ben- Big Ben, (in London) ... Russian spelling dictionary

Big Ben- (2 m), R. Big B/n (clock bell, clock on the Houses of Parliament in London) ... Spelling dictionary of the Russian language

Jarg. they say Joking. The male reproductive organ (usually erect). BSRG, 58 ...

Big Ben English Big Ben ... Wikipedia

Ben Ben (name) Ben is the second letter of the Armenian alphabet Big Ben (English: Big Ben) bell tower in London, part of the architectural complex of the Palace of Westminster. Big Ben is an active basaltic stratovolcano, which is... ... Wikipedia

Big Ben. Jarg. they say Joking. The male reproductive organ (usually erect). BSRG, 58 ... Large dictionary of Russian sayings

Coordinates: 51°30′03″ N. w. 0°07′28″ W d. / 51.500833° n. w. 0.124444° W d. ... Wikipedia

Books

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Big Ben in England is the most famous tower in the world. Along with the Eiffel Tower, the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower, and the Empire State Building, this tower is one of the ten most famous historical high-rises. The most popular and world-famous symbol of London.

All tourists coming to London consider it their duty to visit this attraction in order not only to admire the architectural masterpiece, but also to check the time - after all, the Big Ben clock is rightfully considered the most accurate in the world!

After reading the article, you will find out what Big Ben really is and get acquainted with various theories of the origin of this name. You will learn the history of the construction of the famous tower and clock, as well as many other interesting facts.

What is Big Ben and who came up with the name

Few people know that the well-known tower in England under the name Big Ben was officially called not at all what everyone is used to calling it, but somewhat differently, namely, “Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster” (Clock Tower). Another name for the tower is “St. Stephen’s Tower.” And the name “Big Ben” belongs to the largest bell (one of six) located in the tower. The weight of this giant is almost 14 tons, its height is more than two, and its diameter is about three meters. The sound of this particular bell is broadcast hourly around the world by the British broadcasting company BBC.

Today the name Big Ben has several theories of its origin. According to the first, the bell was named in honor of Deputy Benjamin Hall, who received the nickname Big Ben for his weight. When the question of what to call the bell was being decided in parliament, he read a fiery speech. As Hall sat down, one of those present shouted: “Maybe we’ll call this bell “Big Ben” and leave it at that!” The hall exploded with loud applause and without hesitation, the new name was approved.

According to the second legend, the name of the bell was given by the idol of the British of that era, heavyweight boxer Benjamin Comte, better known among the people as Big Ben. In September 1857, 42-year-old Comte fought his last fight, which lasted sixty rounds. After such a titanic battle, the phrase “Big Ben” became something commonplace. Therefore, when the parliamentarians began to discuss the future name of the Westminster bell, one of the jokers, tired of the long wait and lengthy debate, proposed the name that was on everyone’s lips. He was approved.

In September 2012, by decision of the British Parliament, the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster was renamed the Elizabeth Tower, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

History of Big Ben - tower, clock, bell

The history of Big Ben began in 1837, when most of the Palace of Westminster was destroyed in a fire. After the decision was made to build a new complex of buildings, a specially formed commission examined 97 projects and chose the Gothic sketch of Charles Barry. And the current clock tower was designed in the neo-Gothic style by the English architect Augustus Welby Pugin. Just at that time, Queen Victoria ascended the throne, ruling the British Empire for 63 years.

The height of the Big Ben Tower is 96.3 meters, which is slightly inferior to its “big sister”, the 98-meter Victoria Tower, located in the southwestern part of the Palace of Westminster. The lower part of Big Ben, up to the spire, is made of brick and lined with siding based on Estonian limestone, which has been used in construction for more than 700 years. The upper part of the tower, the spire, is cast from cast iron and is 35.3 meters high. The foundation has a square shape, with a long side of 15 meters. The foundation thickness is 3 meters, the laying depth is 4 meters.

Despite its smaller size compared to the Victoria Tower, the Elizabeth Tower (as Big Ben is now officially called) immediately won the sympathy of both native Londoners and visitors to the city. And the reason for this is not only in the architectural splendor and features of the building, but also in the legendary tower clock, which will be discussed further.

In London itself, many "Little Bens" appeared, small copies of St. Stephen's Tower with a clock on top. Such towers - something between an architectural structure and a living room grandfather clock - began to be erected at almost all intersections of the British capital. The most famous "Little Ben" stands at Victoria railway station.

Big Ben Clock – ALL or NOTHING

Some time after the start of the reconstruction of the Palace of Westminster, members of parliament decided to place a huge clock on St. Stephen's Tower (as the tower in the north-eastern part of the palace was then called). It was decided that the new clock would be the largest and most accurate in the world, and its bell would be the heaviest, so that its ringing could be heard, if not throughout the entire empire, then at least throughout its entire capital.

The mechanic Benjamin Valliami took on the task of constructing the clock. When the clock project was completed, disputes began between its author and the authorities regarding the required accuracy of the clock. The Astronomer Royal, Professor George Airy, insisted that the first strike of the bell every hour should be accurate to one second. The accuracy had to be checked hourly by telegraph connecting Big Ben with the Greenwich Observatory.

In addition, British parliamentarians agreed to finance the project only if the future watch became the most accurate in the world. Valyami said that for watches exposed to winds and bad weather, such precision is not possible, and that in general no one needs it. This dispute lasted for five years, and Airy won. Valyamy's project was rejected.

After numerous failures of professional watchmakers, the construction of the watch was entrusted to the amateur watchmaker Edmund Beckett Denison. To the surprise of many envious people, Denison successfully completed the difficult task. To better separate the pendulum and the clock mechanism, he invented a double three-stage movement. The master managed to place a pendulum weighing 300 kilograms and 3.9 meters long under the clock room, in a windproof box. The pendulum stroke is 2 seconds.

The assembly of the clock was entrusted to watchmaker Edward John Dent, after whose death in 1853 the construction was headed by his adopted son Frederick Dent. Frederick completed the work in 1854.

The clock and dial were designed by the architect Augustus Pugin. The watch dials are housed in 7-metre-long iron frames and are made from 312 pieces of Birmingham opal glass and look more like windows. Some of their pieces can be removed by hand to inspect them. The hour hands are cast from cast iron, and the minute hands are made from copper sheet. The circumference of the discs is gold plated. It is estimated that the minute hands travel a total distance of 190 km per year.

The total weight of the clock mechanism is 5 tons. The diameter of the dial is 7 meters. The length of the hands is 2.7 and 4.2 meters. The Great Clock of Westminster is the second largest four-sided striking clock in the world (after the Minneapolis City Hall Clock, which has a face 4 inches larger).

At the base of each of Big Ben's four dials there is an inscription in Latin: "Domine Salvam fac Reginam nostram Victoriam primam" - "God save our Queen Victoria I". This is a kind of tribute to the empress, who ruled the country for more than 63 years; after all, it was during the Victorian era that the British Empire reached its peak.

Along the entire perimeter of the tower, to the left and right of the clock, is another phrase in Latin - “Laus Deo” (“Glory to God” or “Praise the Lord”).

Big Ben's clock mechanism rings small bells to signal the passage of each quarter of an hour, and at the beginning of each hour the Great Bell sounds. The first blow of the hammer on Big Ben absolutely coincides with the first second of the beginning of the hour.

In their chime, Big Ben and other small bells chime the words “Through this hour the Lord watches over me, and his strength will not let anyone stumble” (“All through this hour/Lord be my guide/And by Thy power/No foot shall slide” ).

Every two days, the clock mechanism is carefully checked and lubricated, and atmospheric pressure and air temperature are always taken into account. The error of the clock on the tower of the English Parliament is no more than two seconds. To correct this situation, an old English penny (issued before the 1971 British currency reform) is used, which is placed on a pendulum, and it accelerates by 2.5 seconds per day. So, with the help of pennies, which are then added and then removed, absolute accuracy of the clock is achieved.

Dials and hands are cleaned every three to four years. Industrial climbers carefully wash hands and parts of dials with their hands for several days. At this time, the clock hands are fixed at 12, but the bells continue to ring.

However, despite its accuracy and reliability, Big Ben's clock broke one day. They stopped on August 5, 1976 and remained frozen for a full nine months. The reason is the fatigue of the metal from which the torsion bar suspension of the pendulum, which transmitted its load, was made. This accident caused significant damage to the clock mechanism. After eliminating its consequences, the clock was started on May 9, 1977. What happened became a lesson for the future: from now on, maintenance of Big Ben was carried out regularly and more thoroughly.

A record stop occurred in 2005, when the mechanism was stopped for 33 hours - scheduled maintenance was carried out. In August 2007, technical work was carried out for the first time without stopping the clock mechanism. They lasted for 6 whole weeks, during which time the craftsmen replaced the bearings and fastening systems of the main bell. And the shooters continued their run with the help of specially connected electric motors.

The story about the famous clock of the Elizabeth Tower would not be complete without a story about the main bell, Big Ben, the history of which deserves special attention.

Bell Big Ben - history of creation

Edmund Beckett Denison, an amateur watchmaker who designed the tower clock, inspired by his success with the clock, decided to take up the bell. And in August 1856, based on his drawings, a 16-ton giant was cast by the craftsmen of the John Warner and Sons company in the town of Stockton-on-Tees (north-eastern England). He was taken to the test site (the courtyard of Westminster) on a cart harnessed to 16 horses. The event turned out to be so significant that the cart was accompanied by an enthusiastic crowd all the way. But the joy turned out to be premature: when the bell was tested, it cracked. I had to send it for repairs. On April 10, 1858, it was recast at the Whitechapel factory. The second bell turned out to be lighter, its weight was 13.76 tons.

It took almost a whole day to lift the giant up the tower. Not only was it heavy, it was also large: height 2.2 meters, width - 2.9 m. And then it happened: on May 31, 1859, Londoners heard the ringing of Big Ben for the first time. And although the weight of the hammer that struck the blows was also reduced, the bell cracked again two months later. They didn’t start casting it again; they limited themselves to “cosmetic” repairs, which lasted 3 years. All this time the bell was silent.

First, they made a cut in the shape of a square, which would prevent further propagation of the crack. Then they turned the bell itself so as not to hit the damage with a hammer. The presence of a defect is precisely what creates that unique resonating sound, thanks to which the ringing of Big Ben cannot be confused with any other. As they say, “There would be no happiness, but misfortune would help”! Since then, residents and visitors to the city on the Thames have heard the bell every 60 minutes, with the first strike of the hammer coinciding with the first second of the new hour.