The History of Big Ben
Big Ben
Horology in general, is our real flare, as such, there exists a very important clock, the history of which is lost to many, that is prominent not only for its location but also for its cultural and historical significance. Yup, you guessed it - we're talking about London’s Big Ben!
Now, as we're sure you're aware, the name 'Big Ben' refers to the bell inside the clock, not the clock itself. In fact, Big Ben is only a nickname, the tower is really called the Elizabeth Tower, to which it was renamed in 2012 from ‘Clock Tower’. The clock was originally completed in 1854 and commissioned to Edmund Beckett Denison and George Airy, Astronomer Royal. Construction was entrusted to Edward Dent and taken over by, his stepson Fredrick Dent, after his death in 1853. However, since the tower was not completed until 1859, Denison started experimenting and ended up inventing the double three-legged gravity escapement, which established the optimal distance between the pendulum and clock mechanism.
The clock is no stranger to breakdowns and other incidents: German bombing during air raids in 1941 damaged the dials, also destroying the house of Commons chamber below. Although, the clock did run smoothly during the Blitz. Its first breakdown was before 1878, when heavy snowfall became too heavy for the clock’s hands to function properly. Then in early 1878, the escape wheel was replaced, and the clock underwent regular maintenance. Snow came again, stopping the clock in 1928. And most recently, in 2017, it was stopped for maintenance and restoration, although the bells still chime for important events.
So, as you can see, along with being extremely accurate it is also a rugged timepiece, only cold weather and German bombs slowing it down. It is also of immense cultural significance in the United Kingdom, often portrayed alongside black cabs and double deckers as quintessentially English. It is a focal point for New Year’s Eve, Remembrance Day, and state funerals – and hopefully, after this next round of repairs, it’ll continue running smoothly for centuries to come.