Changing ground conditions have affected the London clock tower, and it leans ever so slightly to the north-west, with an inclination of 0.26 degrees (that's just one-sixteenth the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa).
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One of the most visible changes to the tower has been the restoration of the clock-face framework to its original colour of Prussian blue, used when the tower was first built in 1859, with the black paint that was used to cover up the soot-stained dial frames now having been stripped away.
The clock tower – colloquially known as Big Ben after its massive bell – has been slightly off center since it was erected in the mid-19th century. Like many old buildings, its position has been shifting imperceptibly for years due to environmental factors such as seasonal temperature and moisture level changes.
On the morning of Her Majesty's funeral, the chimes of Big Ben will fill the air at 9am. The sound will be different to usual and will be muffled due to a piece of leather covering the hammer that hits the bell.
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.
It is a symmetrical structure, measuring 40 feet long by 40 feet wide at its base. The face of the clock is approximately 22.5 feet in diameter. At the time of its construction, Big Ben was the largest four-faced clocktower in the world. Big Ben displays the time on all four sides of its structure.
What is Big Ben's formal name? The tower housing Big Ben was formally known as St.Stephen's Tower until 2012, when it was renamed Elizabeth Tower on the occasion of Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 years on the British throne.
Big Ben RenovationWith the restoration set to wrap up in 2021, this refurbishment will repair the façade and restore the clock hands and details to their original blue color. Heavy London smog in the early 1900s turned the clock details black, and in the 1980s it was painted black to avoid the discoloring effect.
Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the name change. “The renaming of the Clock Tower to the Elizabeth Tower is a fitting recognition of the Queen's 60 years of service. This is an exceptional tribute to an exceptional monarch,” he said. Reactions among the public were mixed, however.
2012: The Clock Tower is renamed the Elizabeth Tower to honour HM Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. 2017: The largest and most extensive conservation of the Elizabeth Tower begins to preserve the clock tower for future generations.
At close proximity, the sound of Big Ben measures 118 decibels, which is loud enough to cause physical pain. To make the bell chime, the copper and tin bell is struck by a hammer weighing 200kg. The bell, weighing 13.7 tonnes itself, makes the musical note “E” when struck.
Many People Call it Elizbeth TowerIt has a massive bell inside called Big Ben that weighs more than 13 tons. In 2012, the British Government renamed it the Elizabeth Tower to honor the Queen. No one knows why people call this tower Big Ben. We have already mentioned the two theories about it.