Can anyone give me a brief history of Big Ben? I heard it used to be a prison before a clock tower. Why did it make the transition?

freddy_krueger

Big Ben is actually the name of the bell in the clock tower. Sep 07 03, 2:12 PM

Brainyblonde

London's Big Ben is not the tower, but the bell in the tower, that forms part of our Houses of Parliament. Officially called the Palace of Westminster, there was a royal palace here in the middle ages. Henry VIII gave it over to government. A fire almost completely destroyed the old palace in 1834. The present building was built in the distinctive Victorian Gothic between 1840 and 1860 by Sir Charles Barry and A.W. Pugin. The great bell is named after the first Commissioner of Works, Sir Benjamin Hall. Also in the clock tower is a prison cell for MPs who transgress against Parliamentary privilage - it was last used in 1880 for this purpose. http://home.t-online.de/home/ssosnitza/big-ben.htm More information can be found here: http://www.bigben.freeservers.com/history.html and here: http://www.parliament.uk/faq/history___buliding_faq_page.cfm Sep 07 03, 2:18 PM

MaggieG 5

Sir Benjamin Hall came from Abercarn in South Wales. (Got to maintain the Welsh profile when Mochyn isn't about). Sep 07 03, 2:27 PM

aljons

Some people say that Big Ben got its name from the heavyweight championship boxer, Benjamin Caunt. But it was more likely an affectionate tribute to Sir Benjamin Hall, who supervised the installation. You can read more about Big Ben's history here: http://www.londondrum.com/cityguide/big-ben.php Aug 09 07, 2:36 PM