The clock inside the tower was the world's largest
when it was installed in the middle of the 19th century. The name Big
Ben actually refers to the clock's hour bell, the largest of the clock's
five bells. The other four are used as quarter bells.
Big Ben
There were two bells cast as the clock tower's hour
bell. A first, 16 ton weighing bell was cast by John Warner and Sons in
1856. Since the Clock Tower was not yet completed, the bell was hung
temporarily in the Palace Yard. The bell soon cracked so it was recast
in 1858 in the Whitechapel Bell Foundry as a 13.5 ton bell.
Unfortunately soon after this bell was placed in the belfry in July
1859, it cracked as well. This time, instead of yet again recasting the
bell, the crack was repaired and a lighter hammer was used to prevent
any more cracks.
