Big Ben Isn’t What You Think It Is…..

Big Ben is the name of the bell that is inside the Elizabeth Tower in the Houses Of Parliament in London. Although most people identify the entire clock tower as Big Ben, it is indeed not the case as the clock tower is called Elizabeth Tower!

Before 2012, the tower was simply known as Clock Tower but to mark the Diamond Jubilee Queen Elizabeth II, the tower was renamed Elizabeth Tower.

The bell inside the Elizabeth Tower is known as also known as the Great bell and has a fascinating story.

The initial bell that weighed 16.3 tonnes was carried by 16 horses and placed near the incomplete tower. Apparently during testing this original bell cracked beyond repair. Thus a new bell had to be commissioned.

Finally the new bell in place, the Big Ben chimed for the first time in July, 1859 and in september, the bell cracked yet again! This time around, the bell could be repaired.

So they chipped a round part of the bell and rotated it a little. And thus, Big Ben chimes even today!