Page 105 - How It Works - Book of Amazing Answers To Curious Questions, 12
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___ History e ---.,1....,.
Why is Ben so Big?
hough synonymous with the clock tower, 'Big Ben'
T is the nickname of the 13-ton bell at the heart of
the building. Big Ben was cast by Warners of Norton
near Stockton-on-Tees in August 1856 and taken to
London by rail and sea, and crossed Westminster Bridge
on a carriage pulled by 16 white horses.
Before being winched up the tower, it was tested daily
until in October 1857 a huge crack appeared. Warners
blamed the clockmaker for upping the hammer's weight
from 355kg to 660kg and demanded a fortune to start
over. So it was decided the new bell would be cast by
George Mears at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Mears'
bell was 2.5 tons lighter but had to ascend the tower on
its side - a task that took 30 hours. Then, in September
1859 the new bell also cracked and didn't ring for four
years until Sir George Airy, the Astronomer Royal,
suggested turning the bell and cutting a square into the
metal to halt the crack, plus using a lighter hammer.
And this is the bell we hear today.
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