Big Ben - Living Up to Its Name!

Tell me this is not TRUE!!!  Despite being one of the most famous landmarks in London, Big Ben is not open to overseas visitors!  How can this BE??  UK residents can request a tour through their member of parliament (MP). An American friend arranged a group tour of Big Ben through her MP. And after months of jumping through some hoops involving passports and resident cards (for now, we are UK residents), we were able to schedule our tour this past week!

The former Parliament building was destroyed by fire in the 1830's.  This was a chance to rebuild on even a grander scale.  Charles Barry was the man picked to be the lead architect of the new building.  You might notice a strong similarity between this building....

and this building... Highclere Castle - otherwise known as Downton Abbey.  Another one of Barry's buildings.  It bore his beloved neo-Gothic style.

Elizabeth Tower is the new name for the Clock Tower.  It was renamed last year to commemorate the queen's diamond jubilee.  Just so you know - there are 2 visible towers on the Parliament building - the bigger one is the Victoria Tower and Big Ben resides in the Elizabeth Tower. 

The tower is about 300 feet high - roughly 16 stories tall.  There is only one way up - climbing 334 circular stairs to the very top.

We stopped several times along the way to different parts of the tower.  

We stopped in a space behind the clock faces.  There are lights that illuminate the clock at night. Before electricity was installed in the tower a man (in a suit and a bowler hat - I kid you not) would climb the stairs to light the gas lamps.  The clock faces are massive - the minute hands along are about 13 feet long.  We stood behind the faces and could watch the hands move!

Then we climbed up to the belfry to see the bells -

 and see Big Ben!  The bells are huge and we were there (with ear protection) when it struck 12 noon!

These are the hammers that strike the bells during the Westminster Chime.

 

The views from the belfry were amazing - we could see out over the Thames River to the London Eye, down the river towards St. Paul's Cathedral and in another direction, to Buckingham Palace!

 And what else did I learn???

• For 2 years during WWI the clock was silenced and the clock face darkened.
• During WWII the clock face was darkened but the bells continued to chime.
• Big Ben (the actual bell) was cast at the same foundry (Whitechapel) as the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.
• In 1941, during WWII 2 of the clock faces were damaged during a German bombing raid but the clock continued to chime and keep accurate time throughout the war (sounds like Timex - takes a licking and keeps on ticking!)
• The Tower actually leans as a result of the excavation of tunnels in the immediate area.
• A special light above the clock faces is illuminated if parliament is in session.  Originally it was just on the clock face that faced the palace to let the monarch know but is now visible from all 4 faces.
• Several times each week birds of prey are released in the tower to move along any birds thinking it would make a nice place for a nest.  

 It was a fabulous adventure!  I always find myself reaching for my camera when I am around Big Ben!  We have shared special times at Big Ben...

And Big Ben goes so well with another London icon!

Just one more reason for you to make London your destination!!