England: Big Ben Celebrates 150 years

One of London’s most famous and most photographed landmark, Big Ben Clock Tower, celebrated its 150th anniversary on Saturday.

The anniversary was being marked with a late night projection on the tower reading: “Happy Birthday Big Ben, 150 years, 1859 – 2009.”

The Great Bell, within Parliament’s clock tower first struck the hour on July 11, 1859.

Nowadays, the name Big Ben is often used to describe the tower. But the nickname Big Ben was first given to the bell alone by Sir Benjamin Hall, the first Commissioner of Works and Public buildings, whose name is inscribed on the bell.

The clock tower was completed in 1859 and the clock was first started on May 31 of that year, with the bell sounding for the first time just over a month later.

(NTDTV)