Big Ben, Gothic clock tower at Palace of Westminster, England
Elizabeth Tower rises 96 meters (315 feet) at the north end of the parliamentary complex, housing a striking clock with four faces showing gilded numerals visible across Westminster. The Victorian Gothic structure of brick masonry with limestone cladding tapers toward an openwork cast iron spire, while each dial measures seven meters (23 feet) in diameter and the great bell inside weighs over 13 tons.
Construction started in 1843 after a fire in 1834 destroyed much of the original palace, with Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin providing the designs. Progress was slow when the main bell cracked during testing in 1857 and had to be recast before installation in 1859.
The chimes mark the hour in daily BBC broadcasts and have become a familiar sound that many people across Britain rely on to orient their day. During state occasions or memorials, altered or silenced ringing carries symbolic weight that resonates with listeners nationwide.
The clock mechanism is wound manually three times a week by maintenance staff who climb 334 steps, while public access is granted only to UK residents through advance booking. Westminster Underground station is within walking distance, and tower views are best from Westminster Bridge and Victoria Tower Gardens.
Each clock face contains 312 pieces of opal glass that internal lights illuminate at night, making the dials visible across London. Tiny time adjustments are made by adding or removing old pennies on the pendulum, with each coin changing the rate by 0.4 seconds daily.
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