Big Ben is the 13.5 ton bell in the clock tower above the Houses of Parliament in London. It was cast in 1858 and named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the Commissioner of Works at the time. There are also four smaller bells that strike the quarters, called the "Little Bens". Big Ben has become a symbol of the "Mother of Parliaments" and Britain's long tradition of democracy.

3. About BIG BEN

4. Big Ben is the bell that
strikes the hours in
the clock tower
above the Houses of
Parliament at Westminster
in London.

5. 13,5 tons and was
named Big
Benin honour of Sir Benjamin Hall ,
who was Commissioner of Works at the time of
the tower’s 1858.

6. Interestingly, the Whitechapel
Bell Foundry where it was cast
is still operating from

7. “Little Bens”.
There are four
smaller bells in
the tower
which strike
the quarters and
are called

8. The British have long prided
themselves on their
democratic tradition.
Big Ben symbolises to many
people the “Mother of Parliaments”.

9. The English
Parliament was
united with the
Scottish
Parliament in
1707 and with the Irish between 1801 and
1992.

10. Since 1688 it has
been customary for
the king or queen to
choose his or her
ministers from
dominant political
party in the
Commons.

11. between 1840 and 1860.
The Houses of
Parliament
are not
particularly
old the
present
building
having been
built

12. can be seen television was
destroyed by incediary boms during World
War II and was later rebuilt preserving its former
character.
It does, however,
incoporate portions of
the mediaeval Palace of
Westminister. The
Commons debating
chamber which
nowadays

13. When the Houses of Parliament are in
session, the clock is illuminated at night by a light
that goes off only when the
House rises.

14. FOR
ATTENTION
WE
WILL
YOU
ENJOY