The most popular landmark in Great Britain, Big Ben had its time moved back one hour as British Summer Time switched to Greenwich Mean Time last night. The Keepers of the Clock, headed by Ian Wesstworth performed the task. The schedule for the time change weekend is as precise as the mechanics of the clock and takes five hours to complete. In order to reach the clock, workers must clime 334 steps or eleven floors just to reach the clock. In order to adjust the 14.5ft pendulum swing, pennies are used. Adding or taking away a penny will alter the time by two fifths of a second.
Big Ben was never the official name for the clock, but only a nickname referring to the clock and the tower. It may have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall who oversaw the installation of the Great Bell in the tower. The official name was Clock Tower and was changed on 2 June 2012 to "Elizabeth Tower" in tribute to the Queen in her Diamond Jubilee year. The large west tower was named "Victoria Tower" as a tribute to Queen Victoria on her Diamond Jubilee, so it was felt to be appropriate.
Londoners who live within earshot of Big Ben can hear the bell strike 13 times. It’s possible because of the speed of sound is actually a lot slower than the speed of radio waves. A fun game of counting the chimes aloud while the radio is turned down will allow the 13th strike.
 |
| Photo by Andrew Dunn Big Ben at Dusk |
Big Ben was never the official name for the clock, but only a nickname referring to the clock and the tower. It may have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall who oversaw the installation of the Great Bell in the tower. The official name was Clock Tower and was changed on 2 June 2012 to "Elizabeth Tower" in tribute to the Queen in her Diamond Jubilee year. The large west tower was named "Victoria Tower" as a tribute to Queen Victoria on her Diamond Jubilee, so it was felt to be appropriate.
Londoners who live within earshot of Big Ben can hear the bell strike 13 times. It’s possible because of the speed of sound is actually a lot slower than the speed of radio waves. A fun game of counting the chimes aloud while the radio is turned down will allow the 13th strike.
