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 as timekeeper is reckoned as May 31, ad as a striking clock July 11, in 1859. The name is traditionally derived from the nickname od 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 to 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 work in the in tower, Big Ben the second also cracked, and up to 1862 it remained silent until adjusted on the advice of the Astronomer Royal. This crack is still apparent. Photo Shows:- 66-year-old Mr. Arthur Lovering, a guide, stands beside Big Ben with his hands covering his ears. In the top left hand corner can be seen one of the quarter bells. Big Ben itself is 9-feet in diameter, 7½-feet in height, and weighs 13½-tons

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

1855-58 1856 66-year-old Adjusted Advice Although Apparent Astronomer Bells Chimes Commissioner Crack Cracked Derived Dials Diameter Discovered Ears Extended Gallows Hundredth Hung Include Itself Lovering Nickname Norton-on-tees Ordinary Pulled Recast Reckoned Remained Remember Shipped Starting Stout Strictly Striking Timekeeper Traditionally Weighs

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