The Big Ben theory
Big Ben is the nickname for the great
bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and
is generally extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower as well. The
clock tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the
third-tallest free-standing clock tower. It celebrated its 150th anniversary on
31 May 2009,during which celebratory events took place. The tower was completed
on 10 April 1858 and has become one of the most prominent symbols of both London
and England, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.
Two theories of its origin. The origin
of the nickname Big Ben is the subject of some debate. The nickname was applied first to the Great
Bell; it may have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw the
installation of the Great Bell, or after boxing's English Heavyweight Champion
Benjamin Caunt. Now Big Ben is often used, by extension, to refer to the clock,
the tower and the bell collectively, although the nickname is not universally
accepted as referring to the clock and tower. Some authors of works about the
tower, clock and bell sidestep the issue by using the words Big Ben first in
the title, then going on to clarify that the subject of the book is the clock
and tower as well as the bell.
By the way it's one of the last clock towers that uses "counterweight" technique. Kind of like a cuckoo clock))
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