Facts and Figures
- 1858 – Year the Tower was completed.
- 316 ft – Height of the Tower.
- ‘E’ – the note that the Bell was originally tuned to. The crack means that it is now slightly off-key.
- 16 – Number of horses that conveyed the Bell from Whitechapel Foundry to Westminster.
- 4.49m – Length of the Pendulum.
- 321kg – Weight of the Pendulum.
- A stack of pre-decimal pennies – are adjusted to amend the time. The Clock is amended by the removal or addition of coins on the pendulum.
- 7m – The diameter of each clock face.
- 312 – The number of pieces of opal glass in each clock face. Some of these pieces can even be removed and put back.
- 2.8m – Length of the hour hand.
- 4.3m – Length of the minute hand.
- ‘Domine Salvam fac Reginam nostrum Victoriam primam’ – The Latin inscription under each dial which translates to: ‘Oh Lord, save our Queen Victoria the First.’
- 31st May 1859 – First time Big Ben chimed.
- 13.7 tonnes – Weight of the Great Bell.
- 2.2m – Height of the Great Bell.
- 2.7m – Width of the Great Bell.
- 200kg – Weight of the Hammer.
- 334 – Steps to the Belfry.
- 30 hours – time it took a team of men to winch the Great Bell up to the Belfry
- 2 seconds – The length of the Pendulum beat.
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