Big Ben 1

Big Ben

Big Ben is in the clock tower known as"Elizabeth Tower".

Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end ofthe Palace of Westminster in London,[1] and often extended to refer tothe clock and the clock tower,[2] officially named the Elizabeth Tower,as well. Elizabeth Tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock inthe world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower.[3] Itcelebrated its 150th anniversary on 31 May 2009,[4] during whichcelebratory events took place.[5][6] The tower was completed in 1858 andhas become one of the most prominent symbols of both London andEngland, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.

Elizabeth Tower

The Palace of Westminster, Elizabeth Tower andWestminster Bridge

The Elizabeth Tower (previously called the Clock Tower) named intribute to Queen Elizabeth II in her Diamond Jubilee year[7] – wasraised as a part of Charles Barry's design for a new palace, after the oldPalace of Westminster was largely destroyed by fire on the night of 16October 1834.[8][9] The new Parliament was built in a Neo-gothic style.Although Barry was the chief architect of the Palace, he turned toAugustus Pugin for the design of the clock tower, which resemblesearlier Pugin designs, including one for Scarisbrick Hall. The design

for the Elizabeth Tower was Pugin's last design before his final descent into madness and death, and Pugin himselfwrote, at the time of Barry's last visit to him to collect the drawings: "I never worked so hard in my life for Mr Barryfor tomorrow I render all the designs for finishing his bell tower & it is beautiful."[10] The tower is designed inPugin's celebrated Gothic Revival style, and is 315 feet (96 m) high (roughly 16 storeys).[11]

The bottom 200 feet (61 m) of Elizabeth Tower's structure consists of brickwork with sand coloured Anston limestone cladding. The remainder of the tower's height is a framed spire of cast iron. The tower is founded on a 50 feet (15.2 m) square raft, made of 10 feet (3 m) thick concrete, at a depth of 13 feet (4 m) below ground level. The

Big Ben 2

four clock dials are 180 feet (54.9 m) above ground. The interior volume of the tower is 164,200 cubic feet (4,650cubic metres).Despite being one of the world's most famous tourist attractions, the interior of the tower is not open to overseasvisitors, though United Kingdom residents are able to arrange tours (well in advance) through their Member ofParliament.[12] However, the tower has no lift, so those escorted must climb the 334 limestone stairs to the top.[11]

Due to changes in ground conditions since construction, the tower leans slightly to the north-west, by roughly 230millimetres (9.1 in) over 55 m height, giving an inclination of approximately 1/240. This includes a plannedmaximum of 22 mm increased tilt due to tunnelling for the Jubilee Line extension)[13] Due to thermal effects itoscillates annually by a few millimetres east and west.Journalists during Queen Victoria's reign called it St Stephen's Tower. As MPs originally sat at St Stephen's Hall,these journalists referred to anything related to the House of Commons as news from "St Stephens".[14]

On 2 June 2012, The Daily Telegraph reported that 331 Members of Parliament, including senior members of allthree main parties, supported a proposal to change the name from Clock Tower to "Elizabeth Tower" in tribute to theQueen in her Diamond Jubilee year. This is thought to be appropriate because the large west tower now known asVictoria Tower was renamed in tribute to Queen Victoria on her Diamond Jubilee.[15] On 26 June, the House ofCommons confirmed that the name change could go ahead.[7] Prime Minister Cameron announced the change ofname on 12 September 2012, at the start of Prime minister's questions.[16] The change was marked by a namingceremony in which the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow unveiled a name plaque attached to thetower on Speaker's Green.[17]

Clock

Dials

The dial of the Great Clock ofWestminster. The hour hand is 9 feet(2.7 m) long and the minute hand is

14 feet (4.3 m) long

The clock and dials were designed by Augustus Pugin. The clock dials are set inan iron frame 23 feet (7 m) in diameter, supporting 312 pieces of opal glass,rather like a stained-glass window. Some of the glass pieces may be removed forinspection of the hands. The surround of the dials is gilded. At the base of eachclock dial in gilt letters is the Latin inscription:

Big Ben 3

“DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM”Which means O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First.

Movement

The tower at dusk, with The London Eye in thebackground

The clock's movement is famous for its reliability. The designers werethe lawyer and amateur horologist Edmund Beckett Denison, andGeorge Airy, the Astronomer Royal. Construction was entrusted toclockmaker Edward John Dent; after his death in 1853 his stepsonFrederick Dent completed the work, in 1854.[18] As the Tower was notcomplete until 1859, Denison had time to experiment: Instead of usingthe deadbeat escapement and remontoire as originally designed,Denison invented the double three-legged gravity escapement. Thisescapement provides the best separation between pendulum and clockmechanism. The pendulum is installed within an enclosed windproofbox sunk beneath the clockroom. It is 13 feet (4 m) long, weighs 660pounds (300 kg) and beats every 2 seconds. The clockwork mechanismin a room below weighs 5 tons. On top of the pendulum is a smallstack of old penny coins; these are to adjust the time of the clock.Adding a coin has the effect of minutely lifting the position of thependulum's centre of mass, reducing the effective length of thependulum rod and hence increasing the rate at which the pendulumswings. Adding or removing a penny will change the clock's speed by0.4 seconds per day.[6]

On 10 May 1941, a German bombing raid damaged two of the clock'sdials and sections of the tower's stepped roof and destroyed the House of Commons chamber. Architect Sir GilesGilbert Scott designed a new five-floor block. Two floors are occupied by the current chamber, which was used forthe first time on 26 October 1950. Despite the heavy bombing the clock ran accurately and chimed throughout theBlitz.

Elizabeth Tower tilts as a result of the excavation of tunnels near Westminster.[19] The tower has tilted an additional0.9 mm each year since 2003,[20] and the tilt can now be seen by the naked eye.[21]

Big Ben 4

Malfunctions, breakdowns, and other outages

The south clock face being cleaned on 11 August2007

• 1916: for two years during World War I, the bells were silenced andthe clock face darkened at night to prevent attack by GermanZeppelins.[11]

• 1 September 1939: although the bells continued to ring, the clockfaces were darkened at night through World War II to preventguiding Blitz pilots.[11]

• New Year's Eve 1962: The clock slowed due to heavy snow and iceon the long hands, causing the pendulum to detach from theclockwork, as it is designed to do in such circumstances, to avoidserious damage elsewhere in the mechanism – the pendulumcontinuing to swing freely. Thus it chimed in the new year 10minutes late.[22]

• 5 August 1976: First and only major breakdown. The air brakespeed regulator of the chiming mechanism broke after more than100 years of torsional fatigue, causing the fully wound 4-ton weightto spin the winding drum out of the movement, causing a largeamount of damage. The Great Clock was shut down for a total of 26days over nine months – it was reactivated on 9 May 1977; this wasits longest break in operation since it was built. During this timeBBC Radio 4 had to make do with the pips.[23] Although there were minor stoppages from 1977 to 2002 when themaintenance of the clock was carried out by the old firm of clockmakers Thwaites & Reed, these were oftenrepaired within the permitted two hour downtime and not recorded as stoppages. Prior to 1970 the maintenancewas carried out by the original firm of Dents and since 2002 by Parliamentary staff.

• 27 May 2005: the clock stopped at 10:07 pm local time, possibly due to hot weather; temperatures in London hadreached an unseasonable 31.8 °C (90 °F). It restarted, but stopped again at 10:20 pm local time and remained stillfor about 90 minutes before restarting.[24]

• 29 October 2005: the mechanism was stopped for about 33 hours so the clock and its chimes could be worked on.It was the lengthiest maintenance shutdown in 22 years.[25]

• 7:00 am 5 June 2006: The clock tower's "Quarter Bells" were taken out of commission for four weeks[26] as abearing holding one of the quarter bells was damaged from years of wear and needed to be removed for repairs.During this period, BBC Radio 4 broadcast recordings of British bird song followed by the pips in place of theusual chimes.[27]

• 11 August 2007: Start of 6-week stoppage for maintenance. Bearings in the clock's going train and the "great bell"striker were replaced, for the first time since installation.[28] During the maintenance works, the clock was notdriven by the original mechanism, but by an electric motor.[29] Once again, BBC Radio 4 had to make do with thepips during this time.

Big Ben 5

Bells

Great Bell

The second 'Big Ben' (centre) and the QuarterBells from The Illustrated News of the World 4

December 1858

The main bell, officially known as the Great Bell, is the largest bell inthe tower and part of the Great Clock of Westminster. The bell is betterknown by the nickname Big Ben.[30]

The original bell was a 16 ton (16.3-tonne) hour bell, cast on 6 August1856 in Stockton-on-Tees by John Warner & Sons.[1] The bell wasnamed in honour of Sir Benjamin Hall, and his name is inscribed onit.[31] However, another theory for the origin of the name is that thebell may have been named after a contemporary heavyweight boxerBenjamin Caunt.[32] It is thought that the bell was originally to becalled Victoria or Royal Victoria in honour of Queen Victoria, but thatan MP suggested the nickname during a Parliamentary debate; thecomment is not recorded in Hansard.[33]

Since the tower was not yet finished, the bell was mounted in New Palace Yard. Cast in 1856, the first bell wastransported to the tower on a trolley drawn by sixteen horses, with crowds cheering its progress. Unfortunately, itcracked beyond repair while being tested and a replacement had to be made. The bell was recast on 10 April 1858 atthe Whitechapel Bell Foundry as a 13½ ton (13.76-tonne) bell.[1][34] This was pulled 200 ft (61 m) up to the ClockTower’s belfry, a feat that took 18 hours. It is 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m) tall and 9 feet (2.74 m) diameter. This new bellfirst chimed in July 1859. In September it too cracked under the hammer, a mere two months after it officially wentinto service. According to the foundry's manager, George Mears, Denison had used a hammer more than twice themaximum weight specified.[1] For three years Big Ben was taken out of commission and the hours were struck on thelowest of the quarter bells until it was reinstalled. To make the repair, a square piece of metal was chipped out fromthe rim around the crack, and the bell given an eighth of a turn so the new hammer struck in a different place.[1] BigBen has chimed with a slightly different tone ever since and is still in use today complete with the crack. At the timeof its casting, Big Ben was the largest bell in the British Isles until "Great Paul", a 16¾ ton (17 tonne) bell currentlyhung in St Paul's Cathedral, was cast in 1881.[35]

ChimesAlong with the Great Bell, the belfry houses four quarter bells which play the Westminster Quarters on the quarterhours. The four quarter bells sound G♯, F♯, E, and B. They were cast by John Warner & Sons at their CrescentFoundry in 1857 (G♯, F♯ and B) and 1858 (E). The Foundry was in Jewin Crescent, in what is now known as TheBarbican, in the City of London.[36]

The Quarter Bells play a 20-chime sequence, 1–4 at quarter past, 5–12 at half past, 13–20 and 1–4 at quarter to, and5–20 on the hour (which sounds 25 seconds before the main bell tolls the hour). Because the low bell (B) is strucktwice in quick succession, there is not enough time to pull a hammer back, and it is supplied with two wrenchhammers on opposite sides of the bell. The tune is that of the Cambridge Chimes, first used for the chimes of GreatSt Mary's church, Cambridge, and supposedly a variation, attributed to William Crotch, on a phrase from Handel'sMessiah. The notional words of the chime, again derived from Great St Mary's and in turn an allusion to Psalm37:23–24, are: "All through this hour/Lord be my guide/And by Thy power/No foot shall slide". They are written ona plaque on the wall of the clock room.[37][38]

One of the requirements for the clock was that the first stroke of the hour bell should register the time, correct towithin one second per day.[39] So, at twelve o'clock, for example, it is the first of the twelve chimes that signifies thehour (the New Year on New Year's Eve at midnight).

Big Ben 6

Nickname

Double-decker buses frame a busy Whitehall withthe Elizabeth Tower in the background

The origin of the nickname Big Ben is the subject of some debate. Thenickname was applied first to the Great Bell; it may have been namedafter Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw the installation of the Great Bell,or after boxing's English Heavyweight Champion BenjaminCaunt.[1][30][32] Now Big Ben is often used, by extension, to refer tothe clock, the tower and the bell collectively, although the nickname isnot universally accepted as referring to the clock andtower.[2][40][41][42] Some authors of works about the tower, clock andbell sidestep the issue by using the words Big Ben first in the title, thengoing on to clarify that the subject of the book is the clock and tower aswell as the bell.[43][44]

Significance in popular culture

Upper portion of the ElizabethTower, as featured in many films

(here pictured in 1967).

The clock has become a symbol of the United Kingdom and London, particularlyin the visual media. When a television or film-maker wishes to indicate a genericlocation in Britain, a popular way to do so is to show an image of the tower,often with a red double-decker bus or black cab in the foreground.[45]

The sound of the clock chiming has also been used this way in audio media, butas the Westminster Quarters are heard from other clocks and other devices, theunique nature of this sound has been considerably diluted. Big Ben is a focus ofNew Year celebrations in the United Kingdom, with radio and TV stations tuningto its chimes to welcome the start of the New Year. As well, to welcome in 2012,the clock tower itself was lit with fireworks that exploded at every toll of BigBen.[46] Similarly, on Remembrance Day, the chimes of Big Ben are broadcast tomark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month and the start of twominutes' silence.[47] Londoners who live an appropriate distance from the Towerand Big Ben can, by means of listening to the chimes both live and on analogueradio, hear the bell strike thirteen times. This is possible due to what amounts toan offset between live and electronically transmitted chimes since the speed ofsound is a lot slower than the speed of radio waves.[48] Guests are invited to count the chimes aloud as the radio isgradually turned down.

ITN's News at Ten opening sequence formerly featured an image of the Elizabeth Tower with the sound of Big Ben'schimes punctuating the announcement of the news headlines.[49] The Big Ben chimes (known within ITN as "TheBongs") continue to be used during the headlines and all ITV News bulletins use a graphic based on the Westminsterclock dial. Big Ben can also be heard striking the hour before some news bulletins on BBC Radio 4 (6 pm andmidnight, plus 10 pm on Sundays) and the BBC World Service, a practice that began on 31 December 1923. Thesound of the chimes are sent in real time from a microphone permanently installed in the tower and connected byline to Broadcasting House.The Tower has appeared in many films, most notably in the 1978 version of The Thirty Nine Steps, in which the hero, Richard Hannay, attempted to halt the clock's progress (to prevent a linked bomb detonating) by hanging from the minute hand of its western dial.[50] In the fourth James Bond film, Thunderball, a mistaken extra strike of Big Ben on the hour is designated by criminal organisation SPECTRE to be the signal that the British Government has acceded to its nuclear extortion demands. It was also used in the filming of Shanghai Knights starring Jackie Chan

Big Ben 7

and Owen Wilson, and was depicted as being partially destroyed in the Doctor Who episode "Aliens of London". BigBen was also featured in the closing scene of James McTeigue's film V for Vendetta in which a futuristic depiction ofGuy Fawkes succeeds in blowing up parliament, and the tower's bells and pendulum are sounded with a final screechat the beginning of the explosion. The apparent "thirteen chimes" detailed above was also a major plot device in theCaptain Scarlet and the Mysterons episode, "Big Ben Strikes Again". It has featured prominently in several animatedWalt Disney films, including The Great Mouse Detective, Peter Pan and Cars 2.At the close of the polls for the 2010 General Election the results of the national exit poll were projected onto thesouth side of the Elizabeth Tower.[51]

On 27 July 2012, starting at 8:12 a.m, Big Ben chimed thirty times, to welcome in the London Olympic Games (i.e.the 30th Olympiad), which officially began that day.

AccoladesIn 2008 a survey of 2,000 people found that the tower was the most popular landmark in the United Kingdom.[52] Ithas also been named as the most iconic film location in London.[53]

References[1] "The Story of Big Ben" (http:/ / www. whitechapelbellfoundry. co. uk/ bigben. htm). Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Archived (http:/ / web.

archive. org/ web/ 20081011072340/ http:/ / www. whitechapelbellfoundry. co. uk/ bigben. htm) from the original on 11 October 2008. .Retrieved 19 October 2008.

[2] Fowler, H. W. (1976). The Concise Oxford dictionary of current English. First edited by H. W. Fowler and F. G. Fowler (Sixth edition ed.).Clarendon Press. p. 95. ISBN 0-19-861121-8. "Big Ben, great bell, clock, and tower, of Houses of Parliament"

[3] (http:/ / www. ctbuh. org/ Portals/ 0/ Tallest/ CTBUH_TallestClockGovernmentPalace. pdf)[4] "Happy birthday, Big Ben", The Times (UK) (69521): p. 1, 1 January 2009[5] Join in the anniversary celebrations (http:/ / www. bigben. parliament. uk/ ixbin/ indexplus?record=ART16), United Kingdom Parliament,[6] "Great Clock facts" (http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ about/ livingheritage/ building/ big_ben/ facts_figures/ great_clock_facts. cfm). Big Ben.

London: UK Parliament. 13 November 2009. Archived (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20091007101459/ http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ about/livingheritage/ building/ big_ben/ facts_figures/ great_clock_facts. cfm) from the original on 7 October 2009. . Retrieved 23 November 2009.

[7] Rath, Kayte (26 June 2012). "Big Ben's tower renamed Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen" (http:/ / www. bbc. co. uk/ news/uk-politics-18592966). BBC. .

[8] "Big Ben—Frequently asked questions" (http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ about/ living-heritage/ building/ palace/ big-ben/ enquiries/ ). UKParliament. . Retrieved 18 August 2011.

[9] "Key dates: 1289–1834" (http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ about/ living-heritage/ building/ palace/ big-ben/ key-dates-/ 1289-90/ ). UKParliament. . Retrieved August 2011.

[10] Rosemary Hill, God's Architect: Pugin & the Building of Romantic Britain (2007) p. 482[11] "Bong! Big Ben rings in its 150th anniversary" (http:/ / www. msnbc. msn. com/ id/ 31002198/ ). Associated Press. 29 May 2009. Archived

(http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20090531143056/ http:/ / www. msnbc. msn. com/ id/ 31002198/ ) from the original on 31 May 2009. .Retrieved 1 June 2009.

[12] "Clock Tower tour" (http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ visiting/ visitingandtours/ bigben. cfm). UK Parliament. 21 April 2010. . Retrieved 30September 2010.

[13] Staff (January 1997). "Tunnel Vision" (http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ post/ pn090. pdf). Post Report Summary. Parliamentary Office ofScience and Technology. .

[14] Frequently asked questions - UK Parliament (http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ about/ living-heritage/ building/ palace/ big-ben/ enquiries/ )[15] Andrew Hough "The Queen's Diamond Jubilee: 'Big Ben to be renamed Elizabeth Tower'" (http:/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ news/ uknews/

the_queens_diamond_jubilee/ 9307060/ The-Queens-Diamond-Jubilee-Big-Ben-to-be-renamed-Elizabeth-Tower. html), Daily Telegraph, 2June 2012

[16] "Questions to the Prime Minister" (http:/ / www. publications. parliament. uk/ pa/ cm201213/ cmhansrd/ cm120912/ debtext/ 120912-0001.htm#12091223000008). House of Commons Hansard Debates for 12 Sept 2012. Hansard. . Retrieved 13 September 2012.

[17] "Elizabeth Tower naming ceremony - News from Parliament - UK Parliament" (http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ business/ news/ 2012/september/ elizabeth-tower-naming-ceremony/ ). Parliament.uk. . Retrieved 14 September 2012.

[18] "Denison, Dent and delays" (http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ about/ livingheritage/ building/ big_ben/ building_clock_tower/building_great_clock. cfm). Building the Great Clock. London: UK Parliament. 13 November 2009. Archived (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/20091204153528/ http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ about/ livingheritage/ building/ big_ben/ building_clock_tower/ building_great_clock. cfm)from the original on 4 December 2009. . Retrieved 23 November 2009.

Big Ben 8

[19] Mair, Robert; David Harris (August 2001). "Innovative engineering to control Big Ben’s tilt" (http:/ / www. ingenia. org. uk/ ingenia/articles. aspx?Index=124). Ingenia (Royal Academy of Engineering) 9. . Retrieved 28 July 2012.

[20][20] TIME Magazine Vol. 178, No. 16| 2011[21] Time. 10 October 2011. http:/ / newsfeed. time. com/ 2011/ 10/ 10/ report-big-ben-could-become-leaning-tower-of-london/ .[22] Namih, Carina (11 August 2007). "Big Ben silenced for maintenance" (http:/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ news/ uknews/ 1559986/

Big-Ben-silenced-for-maintenance. html). The Daily Telegraph (London). . Retrieved 26 April 2010.[23] Peter MacDonald. Big Ben: The Bell, the Clock and the Tower. ISBN 0-7509-3827-7.[24] "Big Ben chimes stoppage mystery" (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 1/ hi/ england/ london/ 4589527. stm). BBC News. 28 May 2005. . Retrieved

26 April 2010.[25] "In pictures: Big Ben's big turn off" (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 1/ hi/ in_pictures/ 4389002. stm). BBC News. 29 October 2005. . Retrieved 26

April 2010.[26] Hutton, Robert (4 June 2006). "Big Ben's Chime Won't Sound the Same to Londoners for a While" (http:/ / www. bloomberg. com/ apps/

news?pid=10000102& sid=ak. qvEQ42YM4& refer=uk). Bloomberg. . Retrieved 30 September 2010.[27] "The Editors: Bongs and Birds" (http:/ / www. bbc. co. uk/ blogs/ theeditors/ 2006/ 06/ bongs_and_birds. html). BBC News. 2006. .[28] "Big Ben silenced for repair work" (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 1/ hi/ uk/ 6941611. stm). BBC News. 11 August 2007. . Retrieved 26 April

2010.[29] "Big Ben 1859 – 2009 – Keeping the Great Clock ticking" (http:/ / www. bigben. parliament. uk/ ixbin/ indexplus?record=ART134). UK

Parliament. Archived (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20090603211836/ http:/ / www. bigben. parliament. uk/ ixbin/indexplus?record=ART134) from the original on 3 June 2009. . Retrieved 27 May 2009.

[30] UK Parliament – The Great Bell (Big Ben) (http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ about/ images/ exterior/ bell. cfm). Retrieved 13 July 2007.Archived (http:/ / web. archive. org/ 20071012035101/ http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ about/ images/ exterior/ bell. cfm) 12 October 2007 at theWayback Machine

[31] "Big Ben of Westminster". The Times (London) (22505): 5. 22 October 1859. "It is proposed to call our king of bells 'Big Ben' in honour ofSir Benjamin Hall, the President of the Board of Works, during whose tenure of office it was cast"

[32] "The Great Bell – Big Ben" (http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ about/ living-heritage/ building/ palace/ big-ben/ building-clock-tower/ great-bell/). Living Heritage. London: UK Parliament. 13 November 2009. . Retrieved 28 July 2012.

[33] "Big Ben – How did Big Ben get its Name?" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20100124034508/ http:/ / www. icons. org. uk/ theicons/collection/ big-ben/ features/ how-did-big-ben-get-its-name). Icons of England. Icons.org.uk. Archived from the original (http:/ / www. icons.org. uk/ theicons/ collection/ big-ben/ features/ how-did-big-ben-get-its-name) on 24 January 2010. . Retrieved 30 September 2010.

[34] The actual weight quoted by the founders is 13  tons 10 cwts 3 qtrs 15 lbs[35] "The History of Great Paul" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20080406001107/ http:/ / www. inloughborough. com/ local+ history/

Great_Paul. shtml). Bell foundry museum, Leicester. Archived from the original (http:/ / www. inloughborough. com/ local history/Great_Paul. shtml) on 6 April 2008. . Retrieved 19 October 2008.

[36] "The New Houses of Parliament". The Standard (London): p. 2. 16 November 1855.[37] Milmo, Cahel (5 June 2006). "Bong! A change of tune at Westminster" (http:/ / www. independent. co. uk/ news/ uk/ this-britain/

bong-a-change-of-tune-at-westminster-481163. html). The Independent (London). . Retrieved 8 April 2008.[38] Lockyer, Herbert (1993). A devotional commentary on psalms. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Christian Books. p. 149. ISBN 0-8254-3146-8.[39] "Whitechapel Bell Foundry" (http:/ / www. whitechapelbellfoundry. co. uk/ bigben. htm). . Retrieved 31 December 2011.[40] Betts, Jonathan D. (26 November 2008). "Big Ben" (http:/ / www. britannica. com/ EBchecked/ topic/ 64921/ Big-Ben). Encyclopædia

Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Archived (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20081102173629/ http:/ / www. britannica. com/EBchecked/ topic/ 64921/ Big-Ben) from the original on 2 November 2008. . Retrieved 27 October 2008.

[41] "Big Ben" (http:/ / www. bartleby. com/ 65/ bi/ BigBen. html). The Columbia Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press. 2001–07. Archived(http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20081010153226/ http:/ / www. bartleby. com/ 65/ bi/ BigBen. html) from the original on 10 October 2008. .Retrieved 27 October 2008.

[42] "Big Ben" (http:/ / www. webcitation. org/ 5kwQ5lg9Y). Encarta World English Dictionary [North American Edition]. MicrosoftCorporation. 2009. Archived from the original (http:/ / uk. encarta. msn. com/ dictionary_1861813060/ Big_Ben. html) on 31 October 2009. .Retrieved 14 January 2009.

[43] "Big Ben and the Westminster Clock Tower" (http:/ / isbndb. com/ d/ book/ big_ben_and_the_westminster_clock_tower. html). isbndb.com.. Retrieved 27 October 2008.

[44] "Big Ben: The Bell, The Clock And The Tower" (http:/ / isbndb. com/ d/ book/ big_ben_the_bell_the_clock_and_the_tower. html).isbndb.com. . Retrieved 27 October 2008.

[45] Patterson, John (1 June 2007), "City Light" (http:/ / arts. guardian. co. uk/ filmandmusic/ story/ 0,,2091939,00. html), The Guardian(London),

[46] "Fireworks going off at the London Eye and Big Ben to welcome 2012 in London" (http:/ / www. youtube. com/watch?v=q1yLRK2M8YQ). BBC One. . Retrieved 31 December 2011.

[47] "Remembrance Day across the UK" (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 1/ hi/ uk/ 4010971. stm). BBC News. 14 November 2004. . Retrieved 13August 2012.

[48] "How to make Big Ben's clock strike 13" (http:/ / www. bbc. co. uk/ news/ uk-11684375). BBC News. 4 November 2010. . Retrieved 13August 2012.

Big Ben 9

[49] Robinson, James (22 October 2009). "ITV to drop Big Ben from News at Ten titles" (http:/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ media/ 2009/ oct/ 22/itv-news-at-ten-big-ben). The Guardian (London). . Retrieved 13 August 2012.

[50] "The Thirty-Nine Steps" (http:/ / www. britmovie. co. uk/ films/ The-Thirty-Nine-Steps_1978/ ). Britmovie.co.uk. . Retrieved 12 August2012.

[51] "General election results beamed onto Big Ben" (http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ business/ news/ 2010/ 05/ big-ben-projections/ ).parliament.uk. Archived (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20101111152210/ http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ business/ news/ 2010/ 05/big-ben-projections/ ) from the original on 11 November 2010. . Retrieved 30 September 2010.

[52] "Big Ben 'UK's favourite landmark'" (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 1/ hi/ england/ london/ 7337319. stm). BBC News. 9 April 2008. . Retrieved26 April 2010.

[53] "Big Ben most iconic London film location" (http:/ / www. metro. co. uk/ fame/ article. html?in_article_id=72142& in_page_id=7).metro.co.uk. .

External links• Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster (http:/ / www. westminster. lovesguide. com/ articles/ bigben. htm)• Official website (http:/ / www. bigben. parliament. uk/ )• Palace of Westminster factsheet (http:/ / www. parliament. uk/ documents/ upload/ G11. pdf) PDF (395 KB)• Whitechapel Bell Foundry on Big Ben (http:/ / www. whitechapelbellfoundry. co. uk/ bigben. htm)• UK parliament's interior photos of Big Ben and Elizabeth Tower (http:/ / www. flickr. com/ photos/

uk_parliament/ tags/ bigben)• Innovative engineering to control Big Ben's tilt (http:/ / www. raeng. org. uk/ news/ publications/ ingenia/ issue9/

Mair. pdf) PDF (747 KB) – A technical paper from Cambridge University• Big Ben's old clapper (http:/ / www. houghtonlespring. org. uk/ articles/ big_ben_clapper. htm) as forged in

Houghton-le-Spring, Co Durham

Article Sources and Contributors 10

Article Sources and ContributorsBig Ben  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=530690348  Contributors: 0filip0, 1exec1, 21655, 22dragon22burn, 28421u2232nfenfcenc, 54gsze4ghz5, A More Perfect Onion,AEdwards, AMPERIO, APT, AWeenieMan, AaronXino, Aashish.59, Abcpp, Abeg92, Academic Challenger, Acalamari, Achangeisasgoodasa, Adam Sampson, Adam850, AdamM, Adambro,Adamguinn, Advance, AgentPeppermint, Ahoerstemeier, Aiken drum, Aitias, Akamad, Aksi great, Alansohn, Alchaemist, Alcoved id, Aldie, Ale jrb, Aleenf1, Alexius08, Alexstep uk, Alfa,Ali@gwc.org.uk, AlistairMcMillan, AllStarZ, Allstarecho, Alnokta, Alphachimp, Altruism, Amitn, Andonic, Andrei Stroe, Andrensath, Andrew Dalby, AndrewAnorak, AndrewvdBK, AndyMarchbanks, AndySimpson, Andycjp, Andyjsmith, Angelofdeath275, AnonMoos, Anonymous101, Anthony Appleyard, Anthony Winward, Araker, Archivist, Arjun01, Arpingstone, ArthurHolland, Artlondon, Arw460, Aseer22, Ashmoo, Atafriends, Atlant, Aude, Auntof6, Avjoska, Awesomeeditor365, AxG, AxSkov, B0989, Backslash Forwardslash, Badblokebob, Badmachine,Badman ruler, Bahar101, Bandchris, Banditnija, Barbara Shack, Barrel Roll, BarryNorton, Barts1a, Basho, Basilbrushleo, Bearcat, Beetstra, Beland, Bensin, Benson85, Benstrider, Benten,Bento00, Betacommand, Bgwhite, Bhadani, Bigpawed, Bigturtle, Bihco, Blake-, Bloodknight, BlueH2O, Bob Castle, Bobo192, Bodnotbod, Bongwarrior, Bonhomie, Boothy443, Born2cycle,Boss1000, Brian Kurtz, BrightStarSky, Brillyfresh, Brooxter117, Brossow, Brown Shoes22, BrownFingers55, Bsadowski1, Bueller 007, Bunna1, Burgh House, Butterscotch, CBF28,CJRMcLaughlin, CMG, CTF83!, Cacophony, Cactus.man, Cadaeib, CalJW, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, CapitalR, Capitalistroadster, Capricorn42, Cathaloconnor76, Cbdorsett, Cdenning,Cflm001, Cgingold, Cgmckay, CharlieRCD, Chase me ladies, I'm the Cavalry, Cheung1304, Chid12, Chillysnow, Chloe2kaii7, Chris 42, Chris j wood, Chris the speller, ChrisO, Chrishy man,Chrsschm, Chuck Sirloin, Chzz, Cimon Avaro, Cliphwinters, Closedmouth, Cmglee, Cnyborg, Coinmanj, Colonel Warden, Cometstyles, Conay, Connellingus, Conversion script, Cop 663,Coralmizu, Cornflake pirate, Correct-o-pedia, Count Caspian, CountdownCrispy, Crazilla, Croslandist, Cutler, Cyan, DARTH SIDIOUS 2, Dabomb87, Daemonic Kangaroo, Dainamo, Dan4142,DancingMan, Daniel Olsen, DanielRigal, Danno uk, Danski14, Darrenhusted, DarthShrine, Dave Andrew, Dave-ros, David Gale, David Thrale, David2032, DavidBrooks, DavidLevinson,DeadEyeArrow, Deanos, Deb, Deb2222, Deli nk, Delldot, Dennis Brown, DerHexer, Devatipan, Devon morales, Dgw, Dharmabum420, Dhodges, Dhp1080, Diliff, Discospinster, Dismas,Dk1965, Dkr1d9fs, Dlohcierekim, Dmcl404, Doczilla, Dori, Douglasbell, Dr Greg, DrKiernan, Dragonrider11, Draicone, Drake Clawfang, DreamOfMirrors, Dreish, Drunkenmonkey, Dryazan,Dryo, Ds13, Dub8lad1, Duckbill, Duckttape17, Dx23, Dynamite XI, E Wing, EJSawyer, ERcheck, ESkog, Ed g2s, Edward, Efghij, ElTyrant, Elpatodiablo, Energyfreezer, Enginear, Enviroboy,Eob, Epbr123, Ephebi, Erebus555, Eric-Wester, EscapingLife, EuanEchidhog, Eurgain, Eurosong, Everyking, Evilandi, Evilweevil, Excirial, Explicit, FAISDT, Fairlyoddparents1234, Fanatix,Fang Aili, Fb78, Finlay McWalter, FireHorse, Fitch, Flubbit, FlyHigh, Flyer84, Fmiddleton, FordPrefect42, FormerIP, FrYGuY, FrancoGG, Frankie816, Freedomlinux, Frictionary, Friedo,Furrykef, Futurix, GM1995, Gabbe, Gaius Cornelius, Gamma8, Gareth Wyn, Garrison Savannah, Gasheadsteve, Gc9580, Geniac, George Ponderevo, Georgua, Ghughesarch, Gilpinthorn,Gnowor, Gobeirne, Gogo Dodo, Golbez, Good Olfactory, Gracenotes, Grafen, Graham87, Grash07, GreatBritain1843, Greg Grahame, Grim23, Groogle, Ground Zero, Grubber, Grutness,Guest9999, Gurch, H, Hagerman, Haham hanuka, Hairy Dude, HairyWombat, Hammersoft, Harland1, Hazhk, Hbdragon88, Headbomb, Helmic, Heron, Hi544, HighTouch, Histrion, Hobartimus,Hohohob, Howcheng, Huaiwei, Hugo999, Hurricanedc, Hux, Hwiseley, ILHI, IMR, IanB2, IanF, Iantresman, Icairns, Iconseditor, Idont Havaname, Idoom, Ignatzmice, Illwauk, Inarius,Irdepesca572, IronGargoyle, IsaacGS, Islander, Islandrave1980, Ixfd64, J.P.Lon, J.smith, JD554, JForget, JPD, JSweit8573, JaGa, Jack1956, Jackp, Jagcat98, Jagoperson, Jak3m, JakeRiddoch,James Balti, James2001, Jauhienij, Jaxl, Jdforrester, Jehuty102, Jennavecia, Jenny Wong, Jerem43, Jfp-24, Jguk, JimWae, Jllm06, Jnfdn, JohJak2, John Quincy Adding Machine, John254,JohnGray, Johnbod, JonGayton233, Joseph Q Publique, Josh Cherry, Joyous!, Jpbowen, JustPhil, JzG, K123321, Kaiba, Kbdank71, Kbthompson, Keithlard, Ketbomb, KevM, Khaosworks, KingLopez, King of Hearts, KingStrato, Kingpin1055, Kitch, Kizdxb, Kjramesh, Klacquement, KnowledgeOfSelf, Korg, Krawi, Krellis, Krister123, KristoferM, Kseferovic, Kubigula, Kukini, Kuru,Kusma, Kwekubo, Kyuko, Kyz, L Kensington, LAX, Lachrie, Laenfant, Laggan Boy, Lalalen, Lazulilasher, LeaveSleaves, Lee M, LeeG, Leonard G., Liamandcole, LittleOldMe, Lizardbreath14,Lmaltier, Lo2u, Logflume12, Loginnigol, LostCause231, Lotje, LukeSurl, Luna Santin, Lyellin, M.nelson, M0RHI, M0rphzone, MDCollins, MDCore, MER-C, MFNickster, MRSC, MTVarro,Mackensen, Magioladitis, Magister Mathematicae, Magog the Ogre, Maha ts, Makeemlighter, Malafaya, Malhonen, Mannskit, MapsMan, Marco79, Marcus2, Marnanel, Martarius, Martinkp,Massimo Catarinella, Matt-drummer, Mattgirling, Mattmcc, Mauls, Mav, Max Naylor, MaxCosta, Maxim, McGeddon, Mconst, Mcrumpsall, MeAbFab, Mean as custard, Megamanfan3,Mendaliv, Mentifisto, Michael Zimmermann, MichaelWheeley, Miche, Midgrid, Miesianiacal, Mike Rosoft, Mikejordanofrecording, Mikerton11, Miketanton, Millahnna, Minturn, Miremare,MisfitToys, Mithent, Mixsynth, Mja123, Mmxx, Mobius 23, Moink, Montrealais, Moonriddengirl, Mootros, MorganaFiolett, Morwen, Movie-lover93, Mpajor91, Mpk, Mr. Vernon, MrDarcy,MrZoolook, Mufka, Myanw, Mygigmms, MykReeve, Mynameisnoted, Nadjiggle, Naive cynic, Nakon, Naturenet, NawlinWiki, Ndenison, Neek, Neogeolegend, NewEnglandYankee, Nibuod,NickBush24, NickS, Nigenet, Nihiltres, Nikai, Ninly, Nnh, Noctibus, Nurg, Nyttend, Ocrasaroon, Odam, Ohconfucius, Ohnoitsjamie, Old Moonraker, Olego, OllieFury, Only, Oosoom, Opie,Orange Goblin, Orange Suede Sofa, OrangeDog, Orphan Wiki, Outriggr, Owen, OwenX, Oxymoron83, Oyyouno, P-Chan, PAntoni, PBP, PBS, PFRSC87, PJM, Pahari Sahib, Paper33d,Paradoxtwin, PatTag2659, Paul A, Paul August, Paul venter, Paul1337, Paula garde, Paulbrock, Pawlo10139, Pcpcpc, Peaceful.driver, Pecholobo, Penfold, Penrithguy, Persian Poet Gal, Petrb,Pharaoh of the Wizards, Phd ru, Philip Cross, Philip Stevens, Phooto, Piledhigheranddeeper, Pilotguy, Pinethicket, Pip2andahalf, Pip92, Pit-yacker, Pmanderson, Preslethe, Pushkin2005,Quizman1967, Qwyrxian, Racklever, Raime, Raintaster, Rajprem, RandomCritic, Rapido, Raven in Orbit, Ravenperch, Ravik, Rayoflight278, RazorICE, Rbeas, Rdsmith4, Rebroad,Recognizance, Redlentil, Reedy, Reginmund, Rehevkor, Retro00064, Rettetast, RexNL, Reywas92, Rfc1394, Rhw66, Rich Farmbrough, Rich0, RichardOSmith, Richwales, Rident, Rjwilmsi,Rob, Robert Spencer, RobertG, Robertthebilling, Robinh, RogerGreenhalgh, Rogerb67, Roketjack, Romney yw, Royaume du Maroc, Rror, Rubicon, RudolfRed, RuthnJasper, Ruy Pugliesi,Ryanlungdb, Ryanmcdaniel, Ryecatcher773, SURIV, Sadalmelik, Saga City, SamEtches, Saperaud, Sarah, Sat liverpool, Saudahmed66, Saxonjf, Scarian, Sceptre, Schneelocke, Schweiwikist,Scole01, Scope creep, Seinfreak37, Seraphimblade, Sfan00 IMG, Shadypalm88, ShakataGaNai, Shakespeare 3D, Shamanx, Sheridan, Shortenfs, Shotmenot, Simonham, Singhalawap, SirNicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, Skunkboy74, Skwirel, SleweD, SluggoOne, Slysplace, Smalljim, Snigbrook, Snot-bag, SoLando, Socal gal at heart, SockPuppet20742, Sojournerjake, Soliloquial,Solipsist, Sonikwlf, Sophie means wisdom, SorryGuy, SpNeo, Spandrawn, Sparrer, Spoonkymonkey, SpuriousQ, SqueakBox, Squeakyboythomas, StAnselm, Stephen2nd, Stephenb,Steve.kimberley, Steve4p, SteveLoughran, Steventity, Stevouk, Stoner--13, Storkk, Stumps, Subrata Roy, Sycthos, SyntaxError55, TAndRDInS, THEN WHO WAS PHONE?, TaalVerbeteraar,Tadartwb, Tagishsimon, TaintedMustard, TallNapoleon, Tangotango, TantalumTelluride, Tanvir Ahmmed, Tariqabjotu, Tarquin, Tbhotch, TedColes, Teles, Tenorcnj, The Anome, The Bread,The Duke of Waltham, The Random Editor, The ultimator, The undertow, The wub, TheKMan, TheMadBaron, TheMadTony, TheNewPhobia, TheRingess, TheYmode, Thefourdotelipsis,Thehelpfulone, Theresa knott, Thirty-seven, Tide rolls, TiffanyCalwell, TigerShark, Tiggeristhebest11, Tiggeristhebest111, Tiggerjay, Tim!, Timrollpickering, Tinton5, Titoxd, Tktru,Tobypowell, Tognopop, Tom, Tompw, Trafford09, TreasuryTag, Tregoweth, Trevor MacInnis, Trilobite, Triona, Trixxy, Tumblingsky, Turretclocks, Turtlesaresexy, Tv316, Twexler, TyA,U-Mos, UberMan5000, Ubernerd42, Ueberzahl, UkNews, Ulric1313, UnicornTapestry, Unyoyega, Urbane Legend, Usually Right, Utcursch, Ute in DC, Valentinian, VampWillow, Vcelloho,Vegaswikian, Vegaswikian1, Velella, Verloren, ViennaUK, Viking880, Violetriga, ViriiK, Vonharris, Vox Humana 8', Vsmith, Waggers, Warofdreams, Wayward, Wdew, WehrWolf, Wereon,Wester, Wetman, WhisperToMe, Wik, WikiWitch, Wikidudeman, Wile E2005, Wile e2005, Will Beback, Wimt, Wiooiw, WiseguyON, Wjfox2005, Woohookitty, WookieInHeat,Wowjmaster13, Xaiyth, Xdamr, Xeno, Xevious, Xezbeth, Xjengvyen, Yamamoto Ichiro, Yhljjang, Ynhockey, Yooperz, Z.E.R.O., Zachwoo, Zariquiegui, Zero Gravitas, Zhokuai, ZigZagZoug,Zigger, ZimZalaBim, Zpb52, Zzuuzz, 1627 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Clock Tower - Palace of Westminster, London - September 2006-2.jpg  Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Clock_Tower_-_Palace_of_Westminster,_London_-_September_2006-2.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0  Contributors: DiliffFile:Palace of Westminster, London - Feb 2007.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Palace_of_Westminster,_London_-_Feb_2007.jpg  License: Creative CommonsAttribution-Sharealike 2.5  Contributors: DiliffFile:Clock Tower - Palace of Westminster, London - May 2007.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Clock_Tower_-_Palace_of_Westminster,_London_-_May_2007.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported  Contributors: DiliffFile:BigBenAtDusk.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:BigBenAtDusk.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic  Contributors: Docu,Saperaud, SolipsistFile:Cleaning Big Ben.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Cleaning_Big_Ben.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.5  Contributors: Original uploader wasPhooto at en.wikipediaFile:big-ben-1858.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Big-ben-1858.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Original uploader was Jack1956 at en.wikipediaFile:Whitehall Street Traffic.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Whitehall_Street_Traffic.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0  Contributors: Joseph PlotzFile:Big Ben Londres.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Big_Ben_Londres.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0  Contributors: Henri Musielak

LicenseCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/