Group Smart Perform Report text Group 5
Aug 14, 2015
WHAT IS BIG BEN?\
Big Ben is the bell
that strikes the hours in the clock
tower above the
Houses of Parliament
at Westminster in London.
It weights 13,5 tons and was
named Big Ben
in honour of Sir Benjamin Hall , who was
Commissioner of Works at the time
of the tower’s completion in 1858.
Interestingly, the Whitechapel
Bell Foundry where it was cast is still operating from
the same location
today.
The British have long prided themselves on their democratic tradition.
Big Ben symbolises to many people the “Mother of Parliaments”.
The English
Parliament was united with the
Scottish Parliament in
1707 and with the Irish between 1801 and 1992.
Since 1688 it has been customary for the king or queen to
choose his or her
ministers from dominant political
party in the Commons.
between 1840 and 1860.
The Houses of Parliament are not particularly old the present building having been built
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
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.