Big Ben, located in Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament in London, is one of the most famous landmarks in England. The name Big Ben originally referred to just the bell but now it encompasses the clock, the tower, and the bell.

History of Big Ben

Construction on the clock tower began in 1843. The clockmaker Edward John Dent was recruited to design the clock in February 1852. After Dent’s death in 1853, his stepson Frederick Dent took over the project. The bell was cast in northern England and transported to London in 1856-1857. However, it developed a crack and a replacement bell was cast in April 1858.

The clock began keeping time in May 1859, and Big Ben chimed for the first time on July 11, 1859. Unfortunately, the great bell cracked two months after its first chime and was taken out of commission. A smaller quarter bell chimed on the hour for four years until the great bell was repaired in 1863.

Restoration and Repairs

Over the years, Big Ben has undergone several repairs and restorations. In 2017, the clock was silenced for four years due to a major restoration project. The project was initially estimated to cost £29 million but was later increased to £61 million and then to £79.7 million due to the discovery of extensive World War II bomb damage.

Big Ben finally rang again on New Year’s Eve in 2021 after four years of silence. It has since been used to mark significant events, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.