News...but not what you know
Big Ben is one of the most iconic attractions in London.
The clock tower stands next to the Parliament building and is a landmark that tourists flock to every year-although many people will see scaffolding poles recently.
Since 2017, this famous towering timepiece has been rebuilt in a renovation project, and the price of the project has soared to about 80 million pounds.
However, the work is being completed slowly but surely, and Big Ben’s newly retouched face has recently emerged, restoring its original blue brilliance.
The bell will ring again, because Big Ben will signal a two-minute silence at 11 am on Sunday, November 14, 2021.
But what is the name of the actual tower where Big Ben is located?
Over the years, this tower has had many names, although the Elizabeth Tower is now widely used.
The tower is located at the northern end of the Houses of Parliament and was named in 2012 to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Given that the tower at the southern end of the building is called the Victoria Tower (named after Queen Victoria), it has a good sense of harmony.
It is sometimes called St. Stephen's Tower, although this is technically incorrect because it is the name of another (smaller) tower on the main public entrance.
But of course, most people still call the clock and the overall structure itself Big Ben.
The actual origin of the name Big Ben is not fully understood, but there are several theories.
The first is that it is named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the first commissioner of the Victorian era, who is affectionately called "Big Ben" among his peers.
The second theory is that it is named after Benjamin Caunt, a popular heavyweight boxing champion in the 19th century.
Technically speaking, Big Ben is also the name of the largest clock (five clocks) in the tower, and it is just the nickname of Westminster Clock.
After the Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire in 1834, it was planned to be replaced by the new Houses of Parliament building
Construction began in 1840, and architect Charles Barry won the commission to design the new palace and included a bell tower in his final design.
He then hired Augustus Welby Pugin to design the tower and give it the now-famous neo-Gothic style.
It was completed in 1859 and was the largest and most accurate four-sided clock in the world at that time.
It is 96 meters high. It takes 334 steps to climb the bell tower and 399 steps to reach the Ayrton Light at the top of the tower.
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