London's Big Ben celebrates 150th Birthday on May 31

by JeffHuang | May 29, 2009 at 09:33 am

2520 views | 24 Recommendations | 30 comments

London's Big Ben will be celebrating its 150th birthday on May 31st. Located at the north-eastern end of the Palace of Westminster in London, the Clock Tower is also referred to as Big Ben.

Big Ben is the world's largest four-faced chiming clock and stands 314-feet high. There is no elevator so for the few that is granted admission, they must climb 334 limestone stairs. The old Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire on October 22, 1834 therefore Charles Barry designed the present tower as a part of the new palace. May 31, 1859 the clock officially started keeping time.

The chime of Big Ben is based on four notes from Handel's Messiah and rings out every fifteen minutes as the bongs of Big Ben is heard every hour.

Big Ben Minute was a term coined during World War 2 when the people of Britain observed a minute of silence as the clock strikes nine. The sound of Big Ben can still be heard amidst the bombs of the Germans and air raid sirens.

Big Ben got its nickname from Sir Benjamin Hall who oversaw the installation of the Great Bell, but many argued that it is named after English Heavyweight Champion Benjamin Caunt.

No special events are planned to commemorate the 150th birthday of Big Ben, but there is an exhibition at Portcullis House, a parliamentary office complex set to open on September 19.

On May 31, 1859 the clock officially started keeping time. Big Ben — the origin of the name is disputed — started tolling a few days later, but within months it cracked again and didn't resume service until 1862.

At first lawmakers complained that it was too loud, while the Times of London lamented that the blunders surrounding the project were "a disgrace to all concerned in it."

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Jordan Yerman

at 14:22 on May 29th, 2009

Happy Birthday, Ben! You don't look a day over 140.

Amy Judd

at 14:25 on May 29th, 2009

Yes true, he's aged well

DeaVanesium

at 16:40 on May 29th, 2009

I agree.

douglasm

at 14:30 on May 29th, 2009

Big Ben is really stunning... I've always wanted to go to London, and when I finally faced it, was really exciting!

douglasm has contributed a photo to this story.

MatAnt

at 15:11 on May 29th, 2009

It's 5.21...

MatAnt has contributed a photo to this story.

McBusby

at 16:51 on May 29th, 2009

We met our son and his family in London for a once in a lifetime vacation and I was able to take this nice picture on the first day. The sound of Big Ben was as striking as the visual appearance, but this image I am pleased to share.

McBusby has contributed a photo to this story.

ghost of anja

at 17:04 on May 29th, 2009

I've always seen pictures and replicas, but on that day I turned and beyond the trees, there stood Big Ben. The REAL Big Ben. It was like meeting a celebrity, and being embarrassingly awkward. I think I said something like, "Oh, hey, that's the actual time."

ghost of anja has contributed a photo to this story.

Sammy J.

at 18:58 on May 29th, 2009

Although everyone referes to the structure as Big Ben, I think 'Big Ben' is actually the name of the bell. The tower it is housed in is called St. Stephens Tower. Still a pretty awesome sight though. I think we sometimes forget what amazing architecture and culture we have on our own doorsteps and it's only through the eyes of others, in this case visitors from other countries, that we are reminded. So thanks guys!

John Allan Robinson

at 19:56 on May 29th, 2009

John Allan Robinson has contributed a photo to this story.

John Allan Robinson

at 19:58 on May 29th, 2009

Happy Birthday Big Ben

lesather

at 21:50 on May 29th, 2009

I have to agree with Sammy J. that Big Ben is the name of the bell, not the tower. The line in the article should read, "the Clock Tower, also referred to as Big Ben" and not the other way around.

tonystanley

at 22:09 on May 29th, 2009

This photo was shot on the day when it was -10C in London.

tonystanley has contributed a photo to this story.

Caroline Voaden

at 00:35 on May 30th, 2009

I took these photos on a recent day trip to London. It was the first time I had seen the Clock Tower and was stunned at the amount of detail in the architecture - truely beautiful.

kodiangman

at 00:39 on May 30th, 2009

kodiangman has contributed a photo to this story.

kirif1

at 01:19 on May 30th, 2009

Such a beautiful building and legend land mark.

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apertu

at 01:28 on May 30th, 2009

Happy Birthday. It is such a great building.

apertu has contributed a photo to this story.

ruffleader

at 01:38 on May 30th, 2009

ruffleader has contributed a photo to this story.

ruffleader

at 01:39 on May 30th, 2009

ruffleader has contributed a photo to this story.

19sixty3

at 02:02 on May 30th, 2009

'Big Ben' is an inspiring piece of architecture that I never tire of photographing. This print is available for sale at www.19sixty3.com.

David Henderson

19sixty3 has contributed a photo to this story.

waynebell202

at 03:08 on May 30th, 2009

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Joep R.

at 04:07 on May 30th, 2009

Happy birthday!

Joep R. has contributed a photo to this story.

albionphoto

at 05:05 on May 30th, 2009

Taken on the Saturday of the G20 Summit in March 2009. Image taken from Westminster bridge and posted in flickr with geotag http://www.flickr.com/photos/albionphoto/sets/72157616539353335/

albionphoto has contributed a photo to this story.

leo572

at 06:40 on May 30th, 2009

This was a pic I took when I went to London on an official visit in the July 2006. That day the tour de france cyclist were passing through london. I was also lucky to see the contingent of london police with their BMW motorbikes posing for pictures near the Big Ben.

I loved seeing the Big Ben structure and listening to its hourly chime. Happy Birthday Big Ben

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sbpeterson

at 07:38 on May 30th, 2009

Thanks Ben for being so iconic and welcoming when I visit your city. Happy Birthday, young man.

sbpeterson has contributed a photo to this story.

cris junqueira

at 09:48 on May 30th, 2009

I took this picture in a cold night of February 2009. The lights were really beautiful.

cris junqueira has contributed a photo to this story.

aniutag

at 12:37 on May 30th, 2009

I was looking for original quite romantique image of Big Ben. I feel that i achieved it.

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jsmags

at 13:19 on May 30th, 2009

Happy Birthday and congratulations Big Ben and UK! ciao jsmags

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Denise Miller (not verified)

at 10:03 on May 31st, 2009

Happy Birthday Big Ben, you are one of the symbolic icons of London and in my opinion one of the most beautiful!

chrisw09

at 14:39 on May 31st, 2009

Visited London on a day trip with the family and this was one of the pictures I took. Big Ben is soooo England! See more of my pics on www.flickr.com chrisw09. Cheers!

chrisw09 has contributed a photo to this story.