Located in the city of London, England, Big Ben is the most famous clock in the world and has become one of the most visited places in this important tourist destination; being an emblematic symbol and an obligatory reference when speaking of the British capital. But, around this world-renowned watch there are curious facts that you will surely want to know:
1- The name of the English Parliament Tower is not Big Ben: What is actually called “Big Ben” is just the clock bell that is located at the highest part of the Parliament Tower. However, the custom of calling the entire tower in this way has been maintained; Although it was officially called “Clock Tower”, until 2012, but today it is called “Elizabeth Tower”, by mandate of Queen Elizabeth, in her own honor, during her jubilee acts.
2- It is a great architectural design before its creator was the victim of insanity: The creator of this watch was the architect Pugin, who unfortunately fell into a serious state of depression and anxiety, which gradually led him to the inevitable madness, just after having delivered to the authorities of that time, the final plans of his project; that today have given life to one of the most iconic tourist attractions in London and Europe.
3- The weight of the first bell of Big Ben was not the current one: The actual weight of the first bell placed on this watch is said to be 16 tons; but it had to be replaced two months after being installed, because a large crack occurred when it was put into operation. Later, another bell of smaller size was manufactured, which has a weight of about 13 tons; which is currently found in Big Ben.
4- The constant inclination of the Parliament Tower: Big Ben presents oscillations in a constant way, which are caused by the ground conditions where the tower is located, which has been inclined approximately two centimeters each year; condition that has been growing since the London underground tunnels are being built, which are located near this place. It should be noted that the inclination is already visible to the naked eye, however, it will take about 400 years for it to be compared with that of the Tower of Pisa in Italy.
5- There is a lighthouse in the Parliament Tower: This lighthouse was installed by order of Queen Victoria, and it is only lit when members of the English Parliament decide to work at dusk. At the time, the queen installed it so that she could see it from Buckingham Palace; and she found out that they were meeting discussing topics of her interest in her.
6- Big Ben has witnessed major wars: Despite being located in a strategic place in the city of London, and could be the target of attacks by enemies during wars, this great clock never lost its punctuality; although at night it was extinguished, especially in the development of World War I and II, so that it would not serve as an orientation for German pilots; reason why it is possible to be said that he was a faithful witness of these disastrous wars, being the object of countless, continuous and fierce bombardments around it.
7- The silence of Big Ben: During some funerals the bells of this clock were silent, as a sign of respect for the deceased, as in the case of figures of the stature of Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill; moments when they were silenced. However, these bells range 56 times every minute, when King George VI died in 1952, because he died at 56 years of age.
8- The English punctuality of Big Ben: The exact precision of this watch has always been defended, however, it is convenient to clarify that sometimes repairs had to be made to adjust its hands, which were sometimes about seven seconds ahead. It is logical that some external factors also act against this great watch, putting its recognized punctuality at risk, such as, in the year 1962 when it was 10 minutes late, due to the excessive accumulation of snow on New Year’s Day, which prevented its exact operation.
9- Access to its interior is reserved for the English: If you are not English, you will not be able to access it, even if it is one of the most visited monuments in the city of London and in all of England. In addition, British people who want to access must request a special permit, and book an appointment in advance; to be able to climb 334 steps, since there is no elevator for the public.
10- Why is it called like this: The origin of this nickname given to the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster, is not clear, although it is believed to be a diminutive of Benjamin Hall, who would have been the person who ordered its construction.