So, Big Ben's story did not start well.īig Ben is a symbol of the British Order and the Political Clout of the nation. To top it off, they had to change the minute hand twice because it was too heavy to move appropriately. In fact, the bell was broken the day after the first test. Once the bureaucratic issues were fixed, they realized that the tower was too small for the size of the clock. The materials arrived late, and the budget did not add up. There were a lot of problems during the construction of Big Ben. Another more popular theory says that it is a tribute to Ben Caunt, the British heavyweight champion in 1850. In fact, the bell bears his name engraved on it. Two theories explain the meaning of 'Ben.' The first and most likely says that it is in honor of Benjamin Hall.īenjamin was the Commissioner of Public Works from 1855 to 1858, in the final stage of construction.

We will only tell you that the bell weighs 16 tons and is more than two meters high. Different Theories about the Big Ben's Name.Anyway, here are a few exciting things to know about Big Ben. There is a story that the building was named after the construction manager Benjamin Hall. The local bell was the heaviest in England during construction, weighing 13.7 tons. Big Ben was initially called the Clock Tower, but after 2012 it became known as the Elizabeth Tower. The tourist site is located on the grounds of the Palace of Westminster. Big Ben is a popular attraction in London.

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