See also: Big Ben (homonymy)

Big Ben is the nickname of large the Cloche located in the Tower of the Clock ( Clock Tower ) of the Palais of Westminster, the seat of the British Parliament ( House off Parliament ). Construction was completed between 1858 and 1859. May 31st, 1859, celebrates it clock enters in service. Each year, it is regulated by posing a part of a penny on the mechanism if it takes lead, or while removing some if it delays.

The building faces the the Thames, between the Pont of Westminster ( Westminster Bridge ) and the Abbaye of Westminster ( Westminster Abbey ). The height of the tower is of 96 meters (314 feet). The clock it even is made up of four dials 7 meters in diameter and a bell weighing 13,5 tons for a diameter of 2,7 meters and a height of 2,2 meter. The mechanism of the clock only weighs with him 5 tons and the hammer weighs as for him close to 200kg. The light with the top of the clock is lit when the Parliament sits.

Detailed characteristics and images of the large bell Big Ben on the site of the British Parliament: British Parliament.

If Big Ben refers strictly to the bell, the English often use the term to speak about the tower. Since 1859, in fact the bells of Big Ben, with Minuit on December 31st, announce in all the English hearths the beginning of the New Year's Day. The sound is retransmis on all the television channels and of radio operator of the country. The creator of Big Ben is Benjamin Hall; this one gave its nickname to its creation: its nickname was Ben , and, as it was a little corpulent, one called also Big . Therefore its large clock bears the name of Big Ben .

There is a miniature reproduction with the Seychelles, in the center of Victoria, the capital, located on the principal island, Mahé. The tower names “the tower of the Clock”.

There exists also a miniature reproduction with Brussels in the park Mini-Europe.

Big Ben is a Beffroi.

Simple: Big Ben