The Big Ben (Clock tower of
the Westminster Palace), London
The Big Ben in London has its own historical
charm. The Big Ben is the colloquial name given to the clock tower of the
Westminster Palace. On 16 October 1834, the Westminster Palace and its
surroundings were almost completely razed to the ground by fire, resulting in the
building of the golden Gothic glory in use today. Its most famous feature is
the Big Ben, the clock tower overlooking Westminster Bridge.
The tower has a height of 316
feet. A flight of stairs leads up to the tower. Not only does the tower house
the clock but, on closer scrutiny, one comes across small chambers that served
as prison cells for Members of Parliament who breached the parliamentary code
of conduct.
The clock strikes every hour on
the 13-ton bell that gives the tower its name. This can be heard upto 4.5 miles
away. On May 31, 1859, the Big Ben rang for the first time over London.
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