200 Years of Chimes

It is one of the most well-recognised clocks in the world, though in its strictest sense the name ‘Big Ben’ refers to the Great Bell behind it, which creates its impressive chimes.

Big Ben (at the top of Elizabeth Tower) stands as part of the Houses of Parliament, overlooking the River Thames. It has done so for over 160 years, when it formed part of the rebuilding of Westminster following a devastating fire. It is possible that the architect who designed Big Ben, Charles Barry, based his decision to include a clock tower on the fact that there had been one on site almost 150 years earlier, which had been there since 1367.