Big Ben: Londons klokketårn

Big Ben is the Clock Tower in London, and the symbol of London. Today it is known around the world, and every year tourists come to visit The Clock Tower. But it is also used for example in advertisements and films.

Facts about the Clock Tower

High: 96 meters Number of floors: 11 Clock diameter: 7 meters Big Ben: The Bell Weight: 7 t High: 2,2 m Hammer weight: 200 kg

The story behind Big Ben

Big Ben was built by the English Parliament in the middle of the 19th century, when Westminster was burned down and was rebuilt.

The Clock Tower is not the first one built in London. The original tower was built in 1288-90, under King Edward I. This tower also contained a clock and clock was called the "Great Edward". In 1367 superseded a second tower of the original, and in 1707 this tower was demolished. Instead, a sundial set up.In 1834, 16 October saw something terrible. It succeeded Guy Fawkes to burn almost all of The Palace of Westminster from. The architects were invited to submit their designs for the new palace, which was chosen the best. Out of a total of 97 designs were architect Sir Charles Barry's design selected. But at the time he had not drawn The Clock Tower into. It was first added into his design in 1836. In 1843 work began on the construction of The Clock Tower.The materials of the bell tower were only from the United Kingdom. There was, for instance. Used cast-iron girders, stone, granite and iron roofing sheets. Charles was a good architect, but not a specialist watchmaker. Therefore, he sought help from Benjamin Lewis Vuillamy who was queen watchmaker. But others wanted the clock was built by Edward John Dent. In 1846 a competition was held to decide who should build the clock. Edward John Dent won and immediately began to build the clock. When Dent died in 1853, completed his stepson clock, Frederick I 1854thin all that time there were many delays because the clock was set correctly found several features that were made many improvements. The clock was installed in the Clock Tower in April 1859 but only started ticking on 31 May 1859thThe building was delayed five years behind schedule and the tower was fully completed in 1859.There was not made any official opening ceremony for the Clock Tower, perhaps because its completion had been delayed.Big Ben: The Bell in Clock TowerBig Ben is not the name of the bell tower, but it is at the building, which has been given this name. It is called the "Great Bell", although it is better known as Big Ben.But there were two theories about what it was named after: 1. it was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, where his name is inscribed on the bell2. or Ben Caunt, who was a boxer in the 1850s.In August 1856 there will be transported new bell of Warner by train and ship to London. When it was hung up in New Palace Yard, was tested each day until the 17th October 1857th It turned out that it weighed too much and split. Warner was asked if he had to rebuild it, but instead was George Mears appointed. The second bell was cast on 10 April 1858, and weighed 2.5 tonnes lighter. Big Ben first rang out on July 1859th but it was not long before the new clock even split in September, and now stood Big Ben silent for four years.In 1863 Sir George Airy found a solution. He released the hammer would hit somewhere else, and a small square was cut into the bell so it does not spread. Cost of the clock and bells, and to install them on the Clock Tower costing £ 22,000.