#Bigben racestoel cracked#

#Bigben racestoel cracked#

This replacement bell cracked as well in 1859.A second replacement bell was cast shortly after in April of the following year. During a test in 1857, the original bell cracked.on, most likely due to an extremely hot temperature of 31.8 degrees Celsius. This translates to 'O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First'. The base of each clock dial features the Latin inscription: Domine Salvam fav Reginam Nostram Victoriam Primam.However, the tower features a modern electric motor as a back-up in case the old mechanism fails, keeping the clock’s fellow Londoners punctual! Big Ben still uses its original Victorian mechanism to ring the bells.Another contends that it was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, a Welsh Civil Engineer who oversaw the construction. One popular account states that it was named after Benjamin Caunt, a heavyweight boxing champion. The origin of the bell’s nickname is uncertain.Upon its completion, the clock was known around the world as both the largest and most accurate four-faced chiming clock on the planet. Pretty appearances aside, the clock featured on the tower is renowned for its precision and accuracy.Literally towering at a height of 96 meters, Big Ben features 334 steps for those willing to take the challenge of climbing from the ground floor to the belfry!.The tower was designed by the English architect Augustus Pugin and completed in 1859.Although Big Ben is commonly used to refer to the tower as a whole, the nickname actually refers directly to the clock tower’s largest bell, weighing a staggering 13.7 tons.In 2012, however, the official name was changed to Elizabeth Tower, marking the historic Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. While everyone knows this iconic landmark as Big Ben, the structure used to be known as “The Clock Tower”.So, buy your bus tour tickets and hop off at stop 10 on the yellow route or stop 3 on the blue route to see first-hand the legendary clock tower!

A London icon built in honour of Queen Victoria, Big Ben has been ringing every fifteen minutes since the mid-19th century, keeping Londoners punctual to this day! Read on and become a Big Ben expert.īig Ben is easily accessible off our main routes.