Big Ben, London, England (45 photos)

Big Ben London Eye whizzy night

Big Ben, situated at the Palace of Westminster, is one of the best known icons of London, and has been voted the Most Iconic Film Location in London. The clock, on its own, has been working since May 1859.

The Big Ben, London, England

Trafalgar Square, London, England

Big Ben and taxi in London City

Big Ben at dawn photo

Big Ben at night

Big Ben at sunset photo

Big Ben at dusk

Although the name “Big Ben” actually refers to the bell inside the clock tower, which weighs an astounding 13 tons, it has come to refer to the entire clock and clock tower over time. This name came from the commissioner of the bell, Sir Benjamin Hall. It is the world’s largest four-faced chiming clock. Each of the four dials measure 2.1 square metres (or 23 square feet). The minute hand is 4.2 metres long (or 14 feet) and each number is about 61 centimetres (or 2 feet) high. Incredibly, this mammoth creation is a very accurate timekeeper. The tower is 96.3 metres (316 feet) high.

Big Ben British flag

Big Ben clock closeup

Big Ben fireworks

Big Ben illuminated at night

Big Ben London aerial view

Big Ben London at night

Although a clock tower was originally built at the Palace of Westminster in 1288, the current tower had to be rebuilt after most of this structure was destroyed in a fire in 1834. Augustus Pugin was commissioned to design the clock tower, and he followed a Gothic Revival style. He later claimed that he had never worked harder on any other creation. The bell was from the old Palace of Westminster (before the fire) and was a gift to the Dean of St Paul from William III. However, it was refashioned in 1858 before being hung at the tower. The first time it would echo its chimes would be on 31 December 1923, and the BBC was there to capture it. Thereafter, the BBC would continue to broadcast Big Ben’s bells to indicate the time to its listeners.

Big Ben London England photo

Big Ben London England picture

Big Ben London England

Big Ben London Eye picture

Big Ben London large vertical picture

Big Ben London on a rainy day

Big Ben London photo

Big Ben London picture

The clock tower is not technically open to the public; but, residents of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (collectively known as the United Kingdom) are able to arrange tours through their local Member of Parliament. Along the 334-stair climb, these visitors will see some of the prison cells inside the clock tower, which were once used for imprisoning Members of Parliament that had breached privileges extended to parliamentary personalities.

Each of the faces of the clock have a Latin inscription at their base, which, when translated, means “Which means O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First”. The dials are gilded on their surrounds.

Big Ben London red sky at sunset

Big Ben Thames River London England picture

Big Ben London view

Big Ben London's calling

Big Ben looking big

Big Ben morning sky

Big Ben red bus London

The construction of the dial mechanism was assigned to renowned clockmaker Edward John Dent. He died in 1853 and his stepson (Frederick Dent) had to complete the mechanism, which he did the following year. For this creation, Edmund Beckett Denison (one of the designers, along with George Airy) invented the double three-legged gravity escapement, which ensured the best separation between the pendulum and the clock mechanism. The pendulum is just under 4 metres long and weighs 300 kilograms! It has a 2-second beat rhythm. A pile of old pennies on its top keeps the pendulum exactly on time. In fact, as small as it is, the presence of one penny can change the speed of the clock by 0.4 seconds per day. The clock mechanism is situated below the pendulum and weighs 5 tons.

Big Ben red double decker bus London photography poster

Big Ben reflection in a cup of tea

Big Ben reflection

Big Ben vintage photo

Big Ben with British flags

Big Ben with red telephone booth in London UK

The original Big Ben bell weighed 16 tons. However, when they were trying to install it, it fell and broke. The new bell was made 3 tons lighter. This bell also has a large crack in it. However, it was simply turned and continues to work, crack and all, to this day.

Big Ben yellow light

Classic London view with Big Ben clock

Foggy Big Ben London England

Lights out near Big Ben London

London Big Ben tower photo

London tower Big Ben photo

Today, Big Ben is an iconic symbol of London, England and the United Kingdom. It appears in films and on postcards. The clock is also used during New Year Eve broadcasts to indicate the ringing in of the New Year. Its film appearances include:

• Mars Attacks!
• National Lampoon's European Vacation
• Shanghai Knights
• The Avengers
• The Thirty-Nine Steps
• Thunderball

Snow dusk London Big Ben

Snowy day in Londontown

Southbank lights Big Ben London UK

Tall Big Ben London photo

Article source: england.org.za, photo source: pinterest, pinterest, pinterest, pinterest