Little Ben, Clock tower in Victoria district, City of Westminster, United Kingdom.
Little Ben is a turret clock built from cast iron in the Victoria district of the City of Westminster. The tower reaches twenty feet in height and carries clock faces with Roman numerals on four sides.
A French clockmaker erected the tower in 1892 during the height of Victorian street furniture design. The structure gained listed building protection in the late 20th century after several restorations.
The name plays on the famous clocktower nearby and shows the British fondness for wordplay in public monuments. Passersby use the small tower as a meeting point and landmark in the busy district around the station.
The turret clock stands on a pedestrian area near Victoria Station and can be seen easily from several streets. The quarter-hour chime is audible from a few meters away.
The structure originally served as a cover for a drinking fountain for horses and people. The clock function was added later as an upper addition to the existing column.
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