BigBenisoneofLondon'sbest-knownlandmarks,andlooksmostspectacularatnightwhentheclockfacesareilluminated.Youevenknowwhenparliamentisinsession,becausealightshinesabovetheclockface.
Thefourdialsoftheclockare23feetsquare,theminutehandis14feetlongandthefiguresare2feethigh.Minutelyregulatedwithastackofcoinsplacedonthehugependulum,BigBenisanexcellenttimekeeper,whichhasrarelystopped.
ThenameBigBenactuallyrefersnottotheclock-toweritself,buttothethirteentonbellhungwithin.Thebellwasnamedafterthefirstcommissionerofworks,SirBenjaminHall.
hisbellcameoriginallyfromtheoldPalaceofWestminster,itwasgiventotheDeanofSt.Paul'sbyWilliamIII.BeforereturningtoWestminstertohanginitspresenthome,itwasrefashionedinWhitechapelin1858.TheBBCfirstbroadcastthechimesonthe31stDecember1923-thereisamicrophoneintheturretconnectedtoBroadcastingHouse.
Duringthesecondworldwarin1941,anincendiarybombdestroyedtheCommonschamberoftheHousesofParliament,buttheclocktowerremainedintactandBigBencontinuedtokeeptimeandstrikeawaythehours,itsuniquesoundwasbroadcasttothenationandaroundtheworld,awelcomereassuranceofhopetoallwhoheardit.
ThereareevencellswithintheclocktowerwhereMembersofParliamentcanbeimprisonedforabreachofparliamentaryprivilege,thoughthisisrare;thelastrecordedcasewasin1880.
Thetowerisnotopentothegeneralpublic,butthosewitha"specialinterest"mayarrangeavisittothetopoftheClockTowerthroughtheirlocal(UK)MP.