Big Ben

Big Ben chimed for the first time in 1859… This iconic bell is known all over the world. By the way, Big Ben is the name of the bell, not the tower, which is called the Elizabeth Tower in honour of the Queen. The origin of the name Big Ben is not clear, but some people associate it with the very first Commissioner of Public Works, Benjamin Hall, who ordered the casting of the bell. The bell was hoisted to the top of the tower in 1859, and Big Ben underwent a series of tests to improve its sound. However, merely two months after its installation, the bell cracked as a result of the hammer being far too heavy for it: this is why Big Ben’s sound is so unique, and recognisable from the four corners of the world! In fact, you can’t miss this very special sound, because Big Ben has been ringing every hour for over 150 years! Only three events have prevented Big Ben from ringing. These were Margaret Thatcher’s funeral in 2013; a hammer that fell into the inner workings during wartime repairs in 1941; and finally, a flock of birds that decided to land on the clock in 1949, causing a delay of a few minutes! Recently, the bell was silenced by renovation work on the tower… Whatever happens, Big Ben will continue to chime every hour, with a sound that can be heard more than 6 kilometres away! The four clocks on each side of the tower tell the time to local residents thanks to their gigantic hands, which measure between 2 and 4 metres in length and move around a dial 7 metres in diameter! It is worth noting that the tower is open to visitors and displays the machine room and the clockwork mechanism, although only British residents have the right to enter this mythical tower if they make arrangements several months in advance! Unfortunately, if you don’t live in the Uk, you’ll have to be content with admiring it from the outside! Which is still a great sight, isn’t it?