Overview
Strictly, Big Ben is the 13.7-tonne hour bell, cast in 1858; the tower, long called the Clock Tower, was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012. Augustus Pugin designed the tower and its clock dials in the Gothic Revival style; the movement, designed by Edmund Beckett Denison and built by the clockmaker Edward Dent, made it among the most accurate large public clocks in the world when completed, its four dials lit at night.
Description
Its chimes, broadcast by the BBC, became a national sound associated with Parliament, New Year, and wartime broadcasts. The bell cracked soon after installation and has a distinctive tone as a result.
History and legacy
Big Ben is one of the most recognizable symbols of London and the United Kingdom. Following a major restoration completed in 2022, its clock and chimes returned to full working order.