Big Ben
Dayana Rodriguez
EAP 1650
Date June 10, 2013
Table of Contents
Location of Big Ben
 Facts About Big Ben
 Timeline to Illustrate When Big Ben Was
Constructed
 What construction materials were used?
 Tenses Used (Highlighted)
 References

Facts About Big Ben

Big Ben has been named for
the great bell of the clock at
the north end of the Palace of
Westminster in London.

The tower was designed by
Plugins before his final
descent into madness and
death.

The tower has become one of
the most prominent symbols
of both London and England,
and is often in the establishing
shot of films sets in the city.
Location of Big Ben

Big Ben is the
common
name of the
Westminster
Clock Tower.
It is located
in London,
England.
Facts About Big Ben
The Elizabeth Tower(the Clock Tower), was the name given
to the tower to honor Queen Elizabeth II on her Diamond
Jubilee year.
 It was raised as a part of Charles Barry's design for a new
palace, after the old Palace of Westminster was largely
destroyed by fire on the night of 16 October 1834.


Over the years it has been considered one of the places
most visited in London.

Despite being one of the world's most famous tourist
attractions, the interior of the tower is not open to oversea
visitors, though United Kingdom residents are able to
arrange tours (well in advance) through their Member of
Parliament.
Timeline to Illustrate When Big Ben
Was Constructed
June 22, 1846
Britain’s chief astronomer sets
conditions for the clock, including that it
be accurate even within a second —
something many clockmakers say is
impossible. After eight years of
wrangling, the clock mechanism was
completed.
August 6, 1856
Big Ben, the large bell, was casted in northern
England and was almost lost in stormy seas as
it was shipped to London.
May 31, 1859
The clock officially began to keep time. Big Ben
starts tolling a few days later, but cracks again
within months and is out of service until 1862.
1916
The clock is silenced for two years of World
War I lest it attract German Zeppelins toward
Parliament.
Timeline to Illustrate When Big Ben
Was Constructed
Sept. 1, 1939
The clock’s lights are extinguished at the outbreak
of World War II.
May 10, 1941
German bombing wrecks Parliament, damages the clock
tower. However, the clock continues to keep excellent
time.
August 5, 1976
The clock suffers major mechanical failure. The damage is
fully repaired within a year.
May 31, 2009
Big Ben had celebrated its 150th anniversary.
What construction materials were used?





The bottom 200 feet (61.0 m) of the tower's
structure consists of brickwork with sand
colored Anston limestone cladding.
The remainder of the tower's height is framed in
cast iron.
The tower is founded on a 50 feet (15.2 m)
square raft, made of 10 feet (3.0 m) thick
concrete, at a depth of 13 feet (4.0 m) below
ground level.
The four clock dials are 180 feet (54.9 m) above
ground.
The interior volume of the tower is 164,200
cubic feet (4,650 cubic meters).
References



Go Historic. “Big Ben, London Timeline.” Go
Historic, Travel Guide. 2013. Web. 22 May. 2013.
Learn Free 2007. “Big Ben Chimes-The
Palace of Westminster: London Strikes 12."
Online video clip. YouTube, 05 Jan. 2013. Web.
11 June. 2012.
Wikipedia contributors. "Big Ben." Wikipedia,
The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free
Encyclopedia, 17 May. 2013. Web. 22 May.
2013.