Thanks to nyassa for the card. sent 27 July 2013.
Big Ben is the nickname of the huge bell that stands atop the Elizabeth Tower of the Palace of Westminster, which is still the seat of the British Parliament. This palace was the only royal residence until the construction of the Tower of London.
In fact the tower you see and which is famous throughout the world is the Elizabeth Tower, nicknamed by abuse of language Big Ben.
In 1843, following the partial destruction of the palace in a fire 9 years earlier, the architect Charles Barry was commissioned to design the new building, including the Clock Tower that would house Big Ben. He called on another famous architect, Augustus Pugin, to help him in this task.
In 1856, the first bell of Big Ben was cast, but it cracked a few months later during the test phase. Another bell, even more massive, was made at the Whitechapel foundry in 1858, the year the clock tower was completed.
The origin of the name of this large bell, weighing more than 13 tons, is not clear. The most likely version being that it comes from Benjamin Hall, the engineer and politician who commissioned the manufacture of this bell, and who was a man of great stature.
On December 31, 1923, for the first time ever, the chimes of Big Ben were broadcast on the radio for the New Year. This broadcast quickly became a tradition, and even today the British can hear the sound of the bells on all radio stations and television channels in the country during the celebration of the New Year.
In 2012, on the occasion of Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee, the clock tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower. Since 2017, renovations have been undertaken in the tower, visits are suspended and the bell no longer rings. The end of the work is scheduled for the course of 2021. Today, the name Big Ben is no longer used to refer only to the bell, but also to the entire clock tower, which is undoubtedly the most famous symbol of the city of London, worldwide.
Stamps from left to right :
- Queen Elizabeth II - Security Machin - M12L
Country:
United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland
Series:
Queen Elizabeth II - Security Machin
Themes:
Crowns and Coronets | Famous People | Heads of State | Queens | Royalty | Women
Issued on:
2013-01-03
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