Big Ben

The image of the clocktower overlooking the Houses of Parliament is one of the most iconic images  related to the English capital city of London. Yet the term used to describe this sight – Big Ben – is one of the biggest misnomers in common usage. For Big Ben is not the clocktower itself, but rather the bell inside that is responsible for the famous chimes. The clocktower and clockface are actually just called the Clock Tower.

The Clock Tower and the bell within, Big Ben, are never the less world-wide recognized symbols of Britain. They stand overlooking the seat of British politics, the House of Parliament, on the banks of the River Thames. For the rest of this article, for the sake of ease, I shall use the name Big Ben to refer to the Clock Tower, the Clock itself and the bell itself.

The tower was originally designed by Charles Barry, who was commissioned to design a new palace when the old Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire on October 22nd 1834. The new parliament was then commissioned, with Big Ben designed to be the crowning piece. Big Ben is designed to be Gothic Revival in style. It is 96.3 meters tall and the circumference at the base is around 61 meters

Due to changes in construction around Big Ben since it’s original building, especially the tunneling required for the extension to the Underground line; the Jubilee Line, the tower actually now leans somewhat to the north-west. Though barely perceptible to the eye, the lean is said to be approximately 220 millimeters which gives an inclination of some 1/250. This changes by a few millimeters each year due to thermal effects, moving slightly from east to west. The building is, however, considered completely safe and stable.

Arguably the most interesting aspect of Big Ben is the clock faces, of which there are four pointing in each geographical direction. These four-faces lead to Big Ben’s accepted claim to be the world’s largest four-faced chiming clock. The faces were designed by the renowned Gothic architect Augustus Pugin, and measure seven meters in diameter. At the base of each clock face, there is the Latin transcription: Domine Salvam Fac Reginam Nostram Victoriam Priman, which translates as ‘O Lord, Keep Safe our Queen Victoria the First’.

The clock mechanism itself is famous for it’s reliability, and has long played a pivotal role in the welcoming of the New Year across the United Kingdom. Since it’s long life began, there have been less than 10 reported failings in Big Ben’s ability to keep time accurately; even through the worst of the Blitz, the German raids on Britain during World War II, it kept time and chimed.