Memorials - Monuments - Museums - Parks - Statues

1959 - This year is the Hundredth Birthday of Big Ben: This year is the hundredth birthday of Big Ben. The first day of its service as a timekeeper is reckoned as May 31, and as a striking clock July 11, in 1859. The name is traditionally derived from the nickname of Sir Benjamin Hall, a stout party who had been First Commissioner of works in 1855-58. It is important to remember that Big Ben is strictly the hour bell; although the name has been extended in ordinary speech to include the chimes, the dials and even the clock tower. The original Big Ben was cast on Aug. 6 1856 at Norton on Tees and shipped to London where it was pulled over Westminster Bridge in a truck drawn by 16 white horses and hung on gallows in the New Palace Yard for testing. A crack was discovered and the bell had to be recast. A few months later after starting works in the in tower, Big Ben the second until adjusted on the advice of the Astronomer Royal. This crack is still apparent. Photo shows 66 year old Mr. Arthur Lovering a guide, looks up the well formed by the 336 stairs to the belfry. He climbs these stairs three or four times a day

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

1855-58 1856 Adjusted Advice Although Apparent Astronomer Belfry Chimes Climbs Commissioner Crack Derived Dials Discovered Extended Formed Gallows Hundredth Hung Include Lovering Nickname Norton Ordinary Pulled Recast Reckoned Remember Shipped Starting Stout Strictly Striking Tees Timekeeper Traditionally

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