Big Ben is is the great deep-toned bell which strikes the hours of the clock in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament, London.
The tower carries five bells in all, the other four striking the quarter hours in the famed Westminster chimes.
The great bell, weighing thirteen and a half tons, was cast in 1858, and was named Big Ben after Sir Benjamin Hall, who was First Commissioner of Works at the time when the clock was erected.
Related Posts
-
Who was Big Ben the tower clock in London named after?
The name Big Ben doesn't refer to the chapel clock in London, but to the 13-ton bell that rings in the clock tower. The "Ben" behind the bell was Sir Benjamin Hall, the…
-
Who is Big Ben Named After and When Was the Clock Tower in London Built?
The clock tower north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, often referred to as "Big Ben", is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third-tallest free-standing clock tower in the world.…
-
Is Big Ben a Clock?
Almost all Americans would say that the clock atop the tower of the English House of Parliament in London is called Big Ben. But the clock is actually known as Westminster Clock. Then…
-
What Civil War General Wrote The Book Ben-Hur A Tale of the Christ?
Lew Wallace had a marvelous career. It began when he raised a company of infantry for the Mexican War. When the Civil War began, he organized troops and, in 1862, led Union forces…
-
How Did the Arctic Get its Name, What Does the Word Mean, and How is it Named After the Big Dipper?
As part of the constellation of Ursa Major, the Big Dipper can be seen the entire year throughout Europe and most of North America. It also becomes brighter as you travel north. The…
