Big Ben

famous landmark of England - the tower of Big Ben. Not many people know that - it is the biggest bell in the Palace of Westminster. Only later the name was transferred to the whole clock tower. The bell Big Ben, the heaviest. It weighs more than 13 tons. Its name he received in honor of Benjamin Hall, who led the cast. According to another version of Big Ben was named after the popular boxer Benjamin Count.

Bell Big Ben

so the date of construction of the modern tower of Big Ben say 1858. It was built in neo-Gothic style and has a height approximately equal to the 16th floor (96.3 meters). In the tower there are no lifts or elevators, so it is closed for mass visit. Sometimes this rule makes an exception, and then the visitors overcome the 334 steps to climb up. Currently, the tower of Big Ben gives the bank because of the construction of the stations of the London Underground.

Big Ben History

big clock with the battle in the world. Their weight - 4 tons. The clock mechanism is a standard of reliability. In its creation clockmaker Edward John Dent has used a brand new double three-step move, which makes it easier to divide the pendulum and a five-ton clock mechanism. Watches are so reliable that even during World War II, when the German bombing of two dials and damaged the roof of the tower, the clock has not breached his move.

culture of England and its place among the sights of London.