Loading Page...

How did Big Ben get destroyed?

On 10 May 1941, a German bombing raid damaged two of the clock's dials and sections of the tower's stepped roof and destroyed the House of Commons chamber.



While the Elizabeth Tower (the tower that houses the bell known as Big Ben) has never been "destroyed," it has suffered significant damage throughout history. During World War II, a German bomb hit the tower in May 1941, damaging the ornamental ironwork and the roof, as well as shattering the glass in one of the clock faces. Despite the damage, the clock remained miraculously accurate and continued to chime. In more recent history, the tower was at risk during the 1990s construction of the Jubilee Line Extension; the massive underground tunneling caused the tower to "tilt" slightly, leading to fears of structural collapse. This necessitated a massive, multi-year renovation project that concluded in 2022, which involved stabilizing the foundation and restoring the clock's intricate 19th-century mechanics to ensure it stands for another century.

People Also Ask

On 21 August 2017, Big Ben's chimes were silenced for four years to allow essential restoration work to be carried out on the tower. The decision to silence the bells was made to protect the hearing of the workers on the tower, and drew much criticism from senior MPs and Prime Minister Theresa May.

MORE DETAILS

10 things we bet you didn't know about Big Ben
  • #1 – Big Ben is a nickname. ...
  • #2 – The clock face is made from hundreds of individual pieces of glass. ...
  • #3 – Big Ben was built 164 years ago. ...
  • #4 – It's really tall.


MORE DETAILS

The 13-tonne Big Ben bell was largely silenced for five years while a major restoration of the Elizabeth Tower took place, with the “bongs” finally resuming regular service in November 2022.

MORE DETAILS

A symbol of democracy and a central part of what makes Britons feel British, Big Ben has become synonymous with both London, the United Kingdom and 'the Mother of Parliaments. ' And it not only holds a special place in the people of Britain's hearts, but in the hearts of MPs as well.

MORE DETAILS

Visitors will be able to book a maximum of eight tickets per person, depending on availability. The Big Ben tour is not suitable for everyone. Visitors must be aged 11 and over and be comfortable climbing 334 steps and experiencing high noise levels from the clock mechanism and bells - earplugs will be provided.

MORE DETAILS