Elizabeth Tower rises at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, completed in 1859 as part of the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament after an 1834 fire destroyed the earlier medieval palace, its Gothic Revival detailing designed by Augustus Pugin working within Charles Barry's overall plan for the new building. The tower houses the Great Clock of Westminster and the Great Bell, popularly known as Big Ben, a name commonly used today for the tower itself even though it strictly refers only to the bell. The tower was formally renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, having previously been known simply as the Clock Tower for more than a century and a half. Between 2017 and 2022 the tower underwent an extensive conservation program, during which the bell was largely silenced, to restore its stonework, clock mechanism and cast-iron roof to their original Victorian condition.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.