One of the few amazing things you can see in England is the Big Ben clock. Although we call it Big Ben, this name is actually belongs to clock’s main bell. Its official name is the Great Bell of Westminster. This is a tower found in Houses of Parliament building at the north- eastern end in London. On October 16, 1834, the old palace of Westminster was burnt in fire and as a result of the new plan of the building suggested, Big Ben was constructed. Tower is 96.3m high which is made of part brickwork with stone cladding and part cast iron. It stands on a 15m x 15m raft, made of 3m thick concrete, at a depth of 7m below ground level. The over all tower weighs about 8,667 tonnes. And tower leans slightly to the north-west due to ground structure.
It was first placed in New Palace Yard which cracked due to striking hammer while construction in 1856. Then it was recast at White Chapel Bell Foundry. Installed into the clock tower in 1908, another crack formed. To prevent further damage to the bell it was rotated and the main hammer was reduced in weight. There are other four quarter bells which play the Westminster Quarters on the quarter hours. The four quarter bells are G sharp, F sharp, E, and B. They play a 20 chime sequence, 1-4 at quarter past, 5-12 at half past, 13-20, 1-4 at quarter to, and 5-20 on the hour. Their faces are 55m above the ground and even though it is not anymore, it still holds the title, “World’s largest four faced chiming clock”. The dials were designed by Augustus Pugin and the minute hand is 14’ long while the hour hand is 9’ long. There is a Latin inscription at the base saying 'DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM'. It means 'Lord save our Queen Victoria I'. The clock sprang into life for public on September 7th, 1859.
Thanks to designer, lawyer and amateur horologist Edmund Beckett Denison, later Lord Grimthorpe, clock is very reliable because it provides accurate time. That is mainly due to the double three-legged gravity escapement placed instead of the original deadbeat escapement and remontoire which enables a good separation between pendulum and clock mechanism. Together with an enclosed, wind-proof box sunk beneath the clock room the Great Clock's pendulum is well isolated from external factors like snow, ice and pigeons on the clock hands thus providing remarkably accurate time. However there was this incident that slowed down the clock causing it to chime 10 minutes late in the New Year due to heavy snow fall on the New Year’s Eve 1962. Clock recorded its first and major break down in 1976 and in May 2005 it stalled ticking for two separate 90 minute stints.
Travellers’ Guide
Big Ben, St Margaret's, 20 Dean's Yard, Westminster, City of London SW1P 3PA, UK
If you are visiting Big Ben, first of all get to Westminster, London. The approximate location of the Big Ben is the 7th Bridge Street, Westminster, London. Big Ben stands facing the Bridge Street route no. A302. If you wish to take the underground there are several tube stations at Westminster, Charing Cross and St James Park.
Hotel Lakshya in Haridwar is just o.12km away from Big ben. La Casa Hotel is 0.32km away and other nearest hotels are, Sun Hotel, Ganga Sadan Hotel, Ganges Rivera and Classic Residency. Also Hotel Park View is just 4.32km away and Hotel Godwin is just 4.83km away.
There are many fantastic restaurants in the area which you might want to go.
St Stephen's Tavern
10 Bridge Street,
Westminster, London.
The Red Lion
48 Parliament St, London.
County Hall
Westminster Bridge Road, City of London
St.Johns Smith Square
Smith Square, Westminster, London
Roux at Parliament Square
11 Great George Street, City of London, Greater London
Georgetown
10 Bridge St, Westminster, London
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