Big Ben - the famous London watch and tower - marks 150 years

This year, the legendary London clock and the Big Ben tower, which today at midnight, were announced by the whole world by the blow of their large Great Bell bell, have been performed this year.

At the beginning of 1859, the construction of the clock tower was completed. Then, on May 31, the clock went, and on July 11 of the same year the first blow of the watch bell sounded. "Great Bell" with a diameter of 2.7 and 2.2 meters high, a 200 -kilogram hammer hit it, and the weight of the bell is 13.5 tons.

The tower with the clock that has become one of the symbols of the British capital and the entire United Kingdom is part of the Westminster Palace located on the shore of the Thames, where the British parliament is located.

The palace and the tower were born after the large London fire of 1834, which destroyed most of the old parliamentary building.

In the competition for the best project of the new residence of the Supreme Legislative body, the English architect Charles Barry won, who presented a project, designed in a neo -Gothic style that was popular at that time. In his vision, the new Palace of Parliament could not exist without a clock tower.

Regarding the history of the name of the name Big Ben ("Big Ben"), which applies simultaneously to the large bell, clock and tower, the opinions of historians diverge.

According to one version, the bell got its name on behalf of the architect Sir Benjamin Hall, who led his installation. According to the other, the bell was named in honor of the famous Benjamin Coon box in the middle of the X1x century, Benjamin Count, the athlete, was distinguished by gigantic growth, powerful complexion and weighed 108 kg.

According to the keeper of the great clock, Mike McCanna, Big Ben plays a special place in the hearts of Londoners, British, residents of many other countries, symbolizing security, stability, being an excellent example of engineering and construction genius. "