The famous name Big Ben actually refers to a single bell, not the tower
In short: When people point to the iconic silhouette at the Palace of Westminster, they call it Big Ben. However, they are technically misnaming the landmark. The name belongs exclusively to the massive 15.1-ton bell inside, while the tower itself has undergone several formal identity changes.
The structure at the northern edge of the Houses of Parliament is a masterpiece of Victorian engineering, but its nomenclature is often misunderstood. While the world calls the entire edifice Big Ben, that moniker strictly applies to the great hour bell. The tower was originally known as St. Stephen’s Tower, but in 2012, it was renamed the Elizabeth Tower to honor the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, marking her 60 years on the throne.
The precision of the clock is driven by a specialized gravity escapement designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, working alongside astronomer royal Sir George Airy and clockmaker Edward Dent. This mechanism allows the clock to maintain an accuracy of within two seconds per week. To fine-tune this timing, engineers use a surprisingly tactile method: adding old pre-1971 decimalization pennies to the pendulum weight. A single penny can cause the clock to gain 0.4 seconds every day.
The history of the bell is one of trial and error. After an initial casting failed, a second bell was cast by George Mears of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and transported to the site by 16 horses. This bell also cracked shortly after installation, leading to a libel lawsuit between Denison and the foundry. The bell has faced various silences, including two years of inactivity during World War I to avoid aiding enemy aircraft, and a period during World War II when the clock face was not illuminated for similar security reasons.
Maintenance is a constant necessity for such a massive instrument. The clock hands measure 9 and 14 feet respectively, and the tower rises approximately 320 feet. Following a period of silence starting in August 2017 for a four-year restoration, the bell is now reserved for significant occasions like Remembrance Sunday and New Year’s Eve.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Truth About Big Ben and the Famous Clock Tower
- Also: Big Ben | History, Renovation, & Facts | Britannica
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