The clock tower has been part of a Grade I listed building since 1970 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. It is one of the most prominent symbols of the United Kingdom and parliamentary democracy, and it is often used in the establishing shot of films set in London. The Elizabeth Tower is a British cultural icon. There are four quarter bells, which chime on the quarter hours. Its nickname may be derived from Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw its installation, or heavyweight boxing champion Benjamin Caunt. The Great Bell was cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and weighs 13.5 long tons (13.7 tonnes 15.1 short tons). It is known for its reliability, and can be adjusted by adding or removing pre-decimal pennies from the pendulum. It was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison and George Airy, the Astronomer Royal, and constructed by Edward John Dent and Frederick Dent. The clock uses its original mechanism and was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world upon its completion. The dials of the clock are 22.5 feet (6.9 m) in diameter. Its base is square, measuring 40 feet (12 m) on each side. The tower stands 316 feet (96 m) tall, and the climb from ground level to the belfry is 334 steps. It is elaborately decorated and includes symbols related to the four nations of the United Kingdom, the Tudor dynasty, and a Latin inscription to Queen Victoria. The tower was designed by Augustus Pugin in a Perpendicular Gothic Revival style and was completed in 1859. The tower was officially called the Clock Tower until 2012, when it was renamed to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The tower is nicknamed " Big Ben", a name which was originally applied only to the largest bell of the clock. It contains the Great Clock, a striking clock with five bells. The Elizabeth Tower is the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster in London, England.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |