 | London Palace of Westminster ("Houses of Parliament") Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 319 |  |
This photo has to be one of the iconic images of London …
… but how many of you think that it is a photo of Big Ben? In fact, Big Ben is the name of the bell inside the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster. And “Palace of Westminster” is the official name for the building which is home to the Houses of Parliament. This is because until 1512 the royal family lived where Parliament is now situated.
Parliament is open to all members of the UK public and overseas visitors. You can watch laws being made, attend debates and committees, tour the buildings, and if you’re a resident of the UK, climb the clock tower. I’ve never been to a debate or on a tour, but I’m lucky that my job has led to me being invited to receptions here on several occasions. There is an incredible sense of history in this building – echoes of the weighty decisions that have been made here, the great statesmen and women who’ve walked these corridors, the major events witnessed here. If you get the opportunity to go inside I would certainly recommend it if you have any interest in history or in politics.
To attend a debate you simply need to join the queue outside St Stephen’s entrance, although you may need to wait an hour or more. Make sure you check that the House is sitting though – details are available on the website below, including recess dates. Security these days of course is very tight, so come prepared for your bags, and your body, to be searched.
Overseas visitors can only tour Parliament during the Summer Opening, when paid-for tickets are available, but if you’re a UK resident you can arrange a place on a free tour through your MP.
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Charles Barry, born in London in 1795 and deceased in 1860, had a training as architect in Italy from 1817 till 1820. Because of this foreign influence, much of his early work was in the Italian Palazzo style.
The story goes that on the night on the 16th of October in 1834, the old Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire. Following on this devastating event, competition was launched in 1836 to create a new design. Charles Barry’s proposed one won. His design incorporated a clock tower. The dials were 30 feet in diameter; the struck on eight bells announced each quarter hour, the hours were struck on a 14-ton Bell.
At the time the clock was designed it was the largest clock in the world.
Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy, a clockmaker with great reputation was contacted but under pressure of open competition, Sir George Airy got appointed to be referee and to make up the specifications of the clock to be. Three candidates occurred: Vulliamy, Dent and Whitehurst. Dent was awarded the contract in 1852. Was it favoritism of Airy? Who can tell.
Edward John Dent died in 1853 and his stepson Frederick Rippon completed the clock mechanism. When it needed to be installed the tower was not finished yet due to miscommunications and problems between Edward Dent and the architect Barry.
But the lost time was spent well as the mechanism got enhanced and enabled to run even more accurate.
But … still the tower was not finished yet. The hour bell, finished in 1856 was too heavy so the ball hammer was made heavier with the result that the bell got damaged behind repair when they hung it for the time being in the New Palace Yard.
At last it was in 1858 that George Mears of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry that provided the bell that still is in use today. Warners provided the four quarter bells. Leave a Comment
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The view of this set of grand buildings along with the clock tower of Big Ben (the bell!!!) which chimes every fifteen minutes to give the time to all of London is well known from post cards and pictures taken by each and every tourist to the city of London!!! Situated along the river Thames it is a sight to see the tower and buildings lit up at night too!!! Great views from the top of the recently built London Eye as well as from across the Thames river too!!! You can go inside to visit the House when it is in session with a previously booked pass!!! Long queues are usual so you may spend quite some time just to get in!!! Leave a Comment
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Just about every tourist will find their way to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben at some point during their visit. So, here's a few facts and figures about this most well known and much loved London landmark:
The name "Big Ben" does not refer to the entire tower - just the huge bell.
It is commonly believed that the bell is named after Sir Benjamin Hall - a politician of the time and who was also the Parliamentary Commissioner of Works.
Big Ben is 9'-0" diameter, 7'-6" high, and weighs 13 tons (13,760 Kg)
It was cast on Saturday 10th April 1858 at Whitechapel Bell Foundry, London by George Mears the master bellfounder and owner of the foundry.
The first chime was rung on 31st May 1859 in situ.
More info can be found here at Londonnet.co.uk Leave a Comment
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Originally it was a palace built in the eleventh century by Edward the Confessor.
In 1812, March 1st, A.Pugin was born in Bloomsbury, London. His father was an French aristocrat who fled France during the French Revolution. From his father Augustus, he learned the love for medieval Gothic architecture. He became a recognized specialist from the age of 19 on.
After a destructive fire on the night of the 16th of October, 1834, it was rebuilt under the direction of Sir Charles Barry, the Palace of Westminster is one of the examples in which you can definitely recognize the influence of Pugin who was responsible for the design of the interiors and for creating working drawings of the exterior details.
Panoramic picture, click on it to enjoy the full view!
In this parliament resides the seat of the Government of the United Kingdom.
This Government consists of the House of Commons, of which members are elected, and the House of Lords, of which members are not elected but nominated and mostly are members due heritage.
Every one can visit the Parliament but you need to make an arrangement first.
You can visit the Strangers galleries in both houses and see the Parliament at work.
For more information look at the website provided. Leave a Comment
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Emerging from the Westminster Underground station, we found ourselves at the northwestern end of the Houses of Parliament and it's famous Clock Tower, commonly known as 'Big Ben'. This 96-m (316-ft) tall Gothic Revival tower was built between 1840-1860 following the 1834 fire which destroyed most of the original Westminster Palace. In addition to the four large clock faces, this tower also supports five large bells which chime their tune every 15 minutes. The commonly used name for the tower derives from the largest of these bells, the 13 tonne Great Bell of Westminster, which is the real 'Big Ben'. The golden trim on the tower made for an impressive sight in the bright sunlight as we walked on past, down the length of the Houses of Parliament to their other end. Leave a Comment
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Finally! Finally! 114 years operating without problems, Big Ben owned a reputation of great accuracy. In 1906 the gas lighting of the dials was replaced by the modern electric lightning. Electricity to wind the clock started in 1912 and the mechanism of the clock got renovated in 1934 and 1956.
On 31st of December 1923, Big Ben made his first appearance on BBC to welcome the New Year! The idea was so much welcomed that from then on a permanent microphone was installed so that the striking of the bell could be used as a time signal. Upon today, the signal is still broadcasted on BBC Radio 4.
When everything goes smooth… disaster can strike:
At 3:45 am on the 5th of August 1976 the clock started to chime the quarter hour. Metal fatigue in the shaft, causes this shaft to break. The result was the fly lacked the retarding and braking effect and propelled by 1,25 ton of weight in the shaft, it increased it rotation in a dramatic speed. The chiming mechanism got totally destruct; some parts of the mechanism got ejected with such a power that they stuck into the ceiling of the room above! The damage was overwhelming.
The chiming train needed to be reconstructed completely. It took about a year to replace the mechanism using this time an electrical motor.
Today Big Ben is chiming again it all it’s glory and was specially world wide broadcasted on the eve of the new Millenium Leave a Comment
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It was a cold early afternoon as we walked the length of the Houses of Parliament, officially known as the Palace of Westminster and a former residence of British monarchs. The oldest existing part of this former palace is Westminster Hall, built in 1097, with it's large end window visible in the photo as we walked past. In the fenced off area is a statue of King Richard I (the Lionheart), who ruled from 1189-1199, mounted on a horse. Westminster Hall is one of the largest in Europe and although originally used for huge Royal banquets, it is now mainly used for 'laying in state' mourning occassions, such as on the death of the Queen Mother.
The second photo shows the southern end of the long building and it was taken from the wide expanse of the Victoria Tower Gardens, which run to the very edge of the River Thames. It shows the tallest of the three towers associated with the Houses of Parliament, the 98-m (323-ft) Victoria Tower, named for the ruling Monarch when the palace was rebuilt after it's 1834 fire. When the Monarch visits the Houses, this is the entrance that is used. Leave a Comment
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the houses of parliament are located on the site of the palace of westminster. this interesting neo-gothic building was built in 1834. the only surviving part of the palace is westminster hall built in 1097. on one corner of the building is one of london's most famous landmarks, big ben. this clock tower is named after sir benjamin hall, commissioner of works when the bell was hung in the tower in 1858. the clocks on the tower have kept time continuously since 1859. the houses of parliament are open year round to british citizens but closed to foreign visitors certain parts of the year. check out their web site for opening times.
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Of course, a visit to London wouldn't be complete without seeing Big Ben. Although "Big Ben" is actually the 13 1/2 ton bell inside St. Stephen's Hall, the clock itself has been keeping accurate time to the second since it became operational in 1859. The Great Bell cracked, was recast and then cracked again, giving it the flawed, now famous, unmistakable sound we hear today. Most Londoners are quick to tell you that "Big Ben" is the bell, NOT the clock, but few could explain why the bell was named that.
There are two possible answers. It could have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, chief commisioner of works during the time, and a rather large man in size. Or, perhaps, it was named by the workmen who transported the bell from Whitehall Foundry on a cart pulled by 16 white horses. Their hero of the day was a 17 stone prize fighter named Benjamin Caunt. (1stone = 14 lbs.)
Regardless, it is known worldwide, lovingly as "Big Ben." Leave a Comment
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