Big Ben is not a clock tower or the British Parliament. Big Ben actually refers to the largest bell inside the clock tower. The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, designed by Charles Barry, took 13 years to build and was completed in 1856. The tower is 316 feet high and the spire is made of an iron frame. This frame is what supports the weight of the bells. The tower contains a staircase to the top, and several small rooms are built into the lower part of the tower, including a small prison cell. The frame of the clock face, designed by AW Pugin is made of cast iron. The dials are 23 feet in diameter and the numbers are each 2 feet high, making this clock one of the largest in the world.
Mandy Hayden
Mandy Hayden
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