The Story of Big Ben
by Kevin Kao, 11 February 2014
by Kevin Kao, 11 February 2014
Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower. The tower is now officially called the Elizabeth Tower, after being renamed in 2012 ("Clock Tower") to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.("Why Big Ben is important?") The tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower. The tower was completed in 1858 and had its 150th anniversary on 31 May 2009, during which celebratory events took place. The tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of the United Kingdom and is often in the establishing shot of films set in London. (Big Ben)
History
On the night of the 16th of October, 1834 the old Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire. It is said that Charles Barry, an architect, was returning to London from Brighton, where he had designed a church, saw the glow of the fire in the distance and discovered that the Houses of Parliament were on fire. Following the destruction of the buildings, a competition was launched for design suitable for the new Palace. Charles Barry's design won. ("Big Ben-Home")
Charles Barry's design incorporated a clock tower. The dials were to be thirty feet in diameter, the quarter chimes were to be struck on eight bells, and the hours were to be struck on a 14 ton bell. Barry invited Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy, a clock maker of reputation, to submit a design and price for constructing such a clock. No doubt Vulliamy was pleased to be the clock maker of choice for what was then to be the largest clock in the world, but other enterprising firms were not happy with the manner in which they had no opportunity to compete for the contract. Subsequently, the Astronomer Royal, Sir George Airy, was appointed as referee for the new clock and produced a specification in 1846. A key requirement of the specification was that the clock was to strike the first blow of each hour correct to one second in time. Tenders were invited and were received from three makers, Dent, Vulliamy and Whitehurst. ("London's Big Ben")
It was clear that Airy favored Dent, with whom he had worked on the development of the chronometer. In 1849 the famous horologist, Edmund Beckett Denison (later Lord Grimthorpe) was appointed co-referee with Airy. Denison was in agreement with Airy that Dent was the maker most capable of constructing the clock and they produced a revised specification and drawings, in respect of which Dent was requested to revise his estimate. In 1852 Dent was awarded the contract.
On the night of the 16th of October, 1834 the old Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire. It is said that Charles Barry, an architect, was returning to London from Brighton, where he had designed a church, saw the glow of the fire in the distance and discovered that the Houses of Parliament were on fire. Following the destruction of the buildings, a competition was launched for design suitable for the new Palace. Charles Barry's design won. ("Big Ben-Home")
Charles Barry's design incorporated a clock tower. The dials were to be thirty feet in diameter, the quarter chimes were to be struck on eight bells, and the hours were to be struck on a 14 ton bell. Barry invited Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy, a clock maker of reputation, to submit a design and price for constructing such a clock. No doubt Vulliamy was pleased to be the clock maker of choice for what was then to be the largest clock in the world, but other enterprising firms were not happy with the manner in which they had no opportunity to compete for the contract. Subsequently, the Astronomer Royal, Sir George Airy, was appointed as referee for the new clock and produced a specification in 1846. A key requirement of the specification was that the clock was to strike the first blow of each hour correct to one second in time. Tenders were invited and were received from three makers, Dent, Vulliamy and Whitehurst. ("London's Big Ben")
It was clear that Airy favored Dent, with whom he had worked on the development of the chronometer. In 1849 the famous horologist, Edmund Beckett Denison (later Lord Grimthorpe) was appointed co-referee with Airy. Denison was in agreement with Airy that Dent was the maker most capable of constructing the clock and they produced a revised specification and drawings, in respect of which Dent was requested to revise his estimate. In 1852 Dent was awarded the contract.
Interesting Facts
Each dial is seven metres in diameter. The minute hands are 4.2 metres long and weigh about 100kg. The numbers are approximately 60cm long. There are 312 pieces of glass in each clock dial. A special light above the clock faces is illuminated when parliament is in session
Big Ben's timekeeping is strictly regulated by a stack of coins placed on the huge pendulum.
Big Ben has rarely stopped. 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.
The chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC on 31 December 1923, a tradition that continues to this day.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. ("London's Big Ben")
Each dial is seven metres in diameter. The minute hands are 4.2 metres long and weigh about 100kg. The numbers are approximately 60cm long. There are 312 pieces of glass in each clock dial. A special light above the clock faces is illuminated when parliament is in session
Big Ben's timekeeping is strictly regulated by a stack of coins placed on the huge pendulum.
Big Ben has rarely stopped. 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.
The chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC on 31 December 1923, a tradition that continues to this day.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. ("London's Big Ben")
NOW
London is one of the famous and most popular city in the world. The most important building in London is arch of Big Ben. It was the most famous and most ancient building in the London. Now Big Ben was one of the famous sites for the travelers. ("Big Ben-London")
London is one of the famous and most popular city in the world. The most important building in London is arch of Big Ben. It was the most famous and most ancient building in the London. Now Big Ben was one of the famous sites for the travelers. ("Big Ben-London")
Future
They have to do something, because Big Ben is starting to turn into the leaning tower of Westminster . On thing is certain, with inflation the way it is, pretty soon Big Ben will turn into Little Ben if nothing is done to save it. One idea is to build a duplicate Big Ben. They already have one big money advertiser lined up, although he wants to rename it as Big Boris. If they are going to rename it in honour of the Queen then why not just give it to her. The only problem that I can think of is that she might decide to move it. Alex Salmon wants to gain custody as part of the divorce settlement with the United Kingdom if he wins his independence referendum. ("future of Big Ben")
They have to do something, because Big Ben is starting to turn into the leaning tower of Westminster . On thing is certain, with inflation the way it is, pretty soon Big Ben will turn into Little Ben if nothing is done to save it. One idea is to build a duplicate Big Ben. They already have one big money advertiser lined up, although he wants to rename it as Big Boris. If they are going to rename it in honour of the Queen then why not just give it to her. The only problem that I can think of is that she might decide to move it. Alex Salmon wants to gain custody as part of the divorce settlement with the United Kingdom if he wins his independence referendum. ("future of Big Ben")
Resource:
Big Ben, Wikipedia. "Big Ben ." Big Ben . Wikipedia. Web. 13 Feb 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben>.
"Why Big Ben is important?." Why Big Ben is important?. Ask.com. Web. 13 Feb 2014. <http://www.ask.com/question/why-big-ben-is-important>.
"Big Ben-Home." History of Big Ben. Big Ben-Home. Web. 13 Feb 2014. <http://www.bigben.freeservers.com/history.html>.
"London's Big Ben." Big Ben Facts. London's Big Ben. Web. 13 Feb 2014. <http://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/tourist-attraction/big-ben>.
"The future of Big Ben." The future of Big Ben. Random. Web. 13 Feb 2014. <http://mrnonnymouse.blogspot.tw/2012/03/future-of-big-ben.html>.
Big Ben, Wikipedia. "Big Ben ." Big Ben . Wikipedia. Web. 13 Feb 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben>.
"Why Big Ben is important?." Why Big Ben is important?. Ask.com. Web. 13 Feb 2014. <http://www.ask.com/question/why-big-ben-is-important>.
"Big Ben-Home." History of Big Ben. Big Ben-Home. Web. 13 Feb 2014. <http://www.bigben.freeservers.com/history.html>.
"London's Big Ben." Big Ben Facts. London's Big Ben. Web. 13 Feb 2014. <http://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/tourist-attraction/big-ben>.
"The future of Big Ben." The future of Big Ben. Random. Web. 13 Feb 2014. <http://mrnonnymouse.blogspot.tw/2012/03/future-of-big-ben.html>.