![]() In 2008 a survey of 2,000 people found that the tower was the most popular landmark in the United Kingdom. Six million people visit London each year, and most of them will visit Westminster and see the clock tower. Since 2003, it tilts by almost a millimeter per year. This is due to some tunnel excavation close by. The clock tower is actually a little slanted and leans slightly towards the northwest by 8.66 inches. The clock faces are cleaned every 5 years using.A group of window washers rappels down the belfry down to the faces and have to be careful not to break the glass panes or lean on the hands. Naturally, it rings in the new year every year for London.īig Ben chimes every fifteen minutes and can be heard for up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) around. The first radio broadcast of Big Ben’s chimes was to ring in the new year of 1924. The name initially referred not to the distinctive 320-foot-high clock tower on the north side of the British Houses of Parliament, renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. The clock gains 2/5 of a second a day from each penny added. If the clock is running slow, a penny is removed from the pendulum. If the clock is running fast, a penny is added to the pendulum. The clock mechanism itself was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, who was not actually a clockmaker, but a lawyer.Įvery year the clock is adjusted using an old English penny. The clock and dials were designed by Augustus Pugin. ![]() The clock dials are set in an iron frame 7 meters (23 feet) in diameter, supporting 312 pieces of opal glass, rather like a stained-glass window(on each side).Įach clock face has an inscription in Latin in gold that reads “ DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM” or “ Oh Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First”. By contrast the minute hand is 4.3 meters (14 feet) long. There is no elevator installed.īig Ben’s clock is the biggest four faced clock on the planet. To reach the top one must climb 334 steps. The tower’s interior is not usually open to the public except on certain occasions. Measurements show the inner volume is 4,650 cubic meters (164,200 cubic feet). The clock faces are about 55 m (180 ft) over the ground. It is 4 meters (13 feet) deep underground. The raft is made up of concrete 3 meters (9.8 feet) thick. The tower is set on a square raft measuring 15 meters (49 feet). Think of Britains capital and the first image that springs to mind is Big Ben, the iconic London clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. The rest of the tower is made up of cast iron. The first 61 m (200 ft) at the bottom are comprised of brickwork and Anston limestone cladding. The size of Big Ben (including the tower) is 96.3 meters (315.9 feet). The tower is officially known as Elizabeth Tower, renamed as such to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II (prior to being renamed in 2012 it was known as the “Clock Tower” or St. It is situated some 61 meters (200 feet) up the belfry. The bell cracked however, and had to be replaced by another one weighing 13 tons.
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