Delving into the history of London's iconic timepiece: The Big Ben

The Big Ben has been inspiring artists, poets, film makers and musicians for generations now, with its stature, prominence and integrity. It’s a sign of British strength, and for many it is a historical landmark.

It’s also one of the most visited tourist spots in London and has been keeping time for the locals for almost 160 years. Many business hotels London wide offer a historic view of the tower for travellers that book in advance.

Historical significance in London

International travellers equate Big Ben to be the quintessential marker for British culture and resilience. It has become a sign of local pride for London residents that reminisce about British art and architecture of the era.

Many hotels near the shard, including The LaLiT London, offer tours that cover much of what happened leading up to the construction of the Big Ben. Tourists from around the world engage in these tours to learn more about how this iconic timepiece became so popular.

A new design from the great fires

The Clock Tower, it’s original name, was developed as a part of Charles Barry’s design. The old Palace of Westminster was demolished in a great fire in 1834, after which the new parliament was designed. While Barry was the chief architect, he worked with designer Augustus Pugin to create a neo-gothic clock tower that symbolized British strength.

The 315 feet tall tower was finally constructed in 1859, becoming the world’s largest clock tower at that time. It was also the largest bell in the UK for more than 20 years, and currently weighs around 13.7 tonnes. The tower marks an ancient landmark that has been well preserved for generations.

Big Ben’s role in history

Big Ben went completely dark during the World Wars, to avoid enemy bombing. It also served as a strategic wartime point of interest. In fact, in 1941, German bombers did attempt to destroy the house of chambers but were unable to damage the actual clock. It remained fully functional throughout the ordeal, marking British perseverance for decades to come.

The Latin words Domine Salvam Fac Reginam Nostram Victoriam Primam, were inscribed under the clockface, which translated to "O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First" in the Queen’s honour. It was later renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. 

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Created on Apr 29th 2019 07:32. Viewed 289 times.

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