This is a previous article featured about 'Big Ben'.
Big Ben's Stats.
weight 13 tons 10 cwts 3qtrs 15lbs (13,760 kg)- in other words- HEAVY!!!
Note Tuned to the note of E
Diameter At big Ben's widest point, it measures a whopping 9ft!
Tower St. Stephens tower is 316 ft tall, and there are 340 steps to the belfry!
Clock The hands of the clock have a massive diameter of 23 ft!
St. Stephen's tower in the Houses of Parliament has what is probably one of the world's most famous bells- Big Ben. Big Ben is the hour bell for the "Great clock of Westminster".
The original bell was cast by John Warner & sons of Stockton-on-Tees (along with four other quarter bells, the heaviest weighing over three tons), but because it was of a poor quality it cracked.
The old bell metal was melted down and recast into the current Big Ben by Whitechapel Bellfounders on 10th April 1858.
Fascinating Facts
Parliament met especially to decide the name of their new clock bell. There was much debate about what to christen the new bell as. Finally Sir Benjamin Hall, who was affectionately nicknamed "Big Ben" stood and gave a long speech about what he thought the bell should be called. After he had sat down somebody shouted: "Why not call him Big ben and have it done with!" So they did.
Unfortunately, just two months after Big ben was hung in the tower, the hammer cracked the bell! This was because the hammer was too heavy for the weight of the bell, and hit it too hard. For the following three years, the largest of the quarter bells was used to chime the hours, until a new hammer was fitted and the bell repaired. Big Ben is still cracked, which gives it a distinctive tone.
Listen to Big Ben by clicking here-