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Big Ben. Veronika Sabelová. Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London officially name is Elizabeth Tower
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Big Ben Veronika Sabelová
Big Ben isthenicknameforthegreat bell oftheclockatthenorth end ofthePalaceofWestminster in London • officiallynameisElizabeth Tower • Elizabeth Tower holdsthelargestfour-facedchimingclockin theworld and isthethird-tallest free-standingclocktower • Thetowerwascompleted in 1858 and has becomeoneofthe most prominent symbolsofboth London and England
Big Ben waslargelydestroyed by fire on the night of 16 October1834 • ThenewParliamentwasbuilt in a Neo-gothic style. • Charles BarrywasthechiefarchitectofthePalace, he turned to Augustus Puginforthe design oftheclocktower • 315 feet (96 m) high • roughly16 storeys
Themain bell, officiallyknown as the Great Bell, isthelargest bell in thetower • Alongwiththe Great Bell, thebelfryhousesfourquarterbellswhich play theWestminsterQuarters on thequarterhours
On 10 May 1941, a Germanbombingraiddamagedtwooftheclock'sdials and sectionsofthetower'ssteppedroof and destroyedthe House ofCommonschamber. Architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scottdesigned a newfive-floorblock. Twofloors are occupied by thecurrentchamber, whichwasusedforthefirsttime on 26 October 1950. Despitetheheavybombingtheclock ran accurately and chimedthroughouttheBlitz.
Despitebeingoneoftheworld's most famoustouristattractions, theinteriorofthetoweris not open to overseasvisitors, though United Kingdomresidents are able to arrangetours (well in advance) throughtheirMemberofParliament. However, thetower has no lift, so thoseescortedmustclimbthe 334 limestonestairs to the top
In 2008 a surveyof 2,000 peoplefoundthatthetowerwasthe most popularlandmark in the United Kingdom. It has alsobeennamed as the most iconic film location in London
The End Čerpáno z: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben