2007-03-21 07:40:58 · 18 answers · asked by bexbickles 2 in Travel ➔ United Kingdom ➔ London
In that case, why did they call the bell "Ben", and why did they give it a name?
2007-03-21 08:00:00 · update #1
The main bell, officially known as Big Ben, is the largest bell in the tower and part of the Great Clock of Westminster.
The name Big Ben was first given to a 14.5 tonne (16 ton) hour bell, cast on 10 April 1856 in Stockton-on-Tees by Warner's of Cripplegate. The bell was never officially named, but the legend on it records that the commissioner of works, Sir Benjamin Hall, was responsible for the order; another theory is that the bell may have been named after heavyweight boxer Benjamin Caunt who was popular at the time. There's also a story that the bell was to be called "Victoria" in honour of Queen Victoria, but the ceremonial speeches went on so long that some joker shouted out "Oh just call it Big Ben and have done with it!" and the name stuck.
(is it seriously that hard to go to wikipedia and search for big ben, took me less time to search, copy, paste than it probably took for you to ask the question)
2007-03-21 07:50:03 · answer #1 · answered by dementedmind_06 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Big Ben is the name of the Bell inside the clock!
2007-03-21 07:45:34 · answer #2 · answered by xxloopylozixx 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Big ben is the name of the bell inside - not the building.
2007-03-21 07:43:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
the bell is called big ben
2007-03-22 08:52:18 · answer #4 · answered by jessicagayner 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the bells called ben and the clocks big
2007-03-21 07:48:18 · answer #5 · answered by cheekybluebed 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Big Ben is the name of the Bell in the tower and not the clock or clock tower.
2007-03-21 07:46:42 · answer #6 · answered by ANF 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give the best answer award to 'demented' as he's the only one who mentioned Benjamin Hall. As everyone else has mentioned, it's not the tower's name but the bell (despite the fact you didn't refer to it as the tower in the question). Just to tell you as additional info that the tower itself, commonly known as Big Ben is called St Stephen's tower. Poor St Stephen, never has his name used properly. Big Ben and also people prefer to refer to St Stephen's Day as Boxing Day (apart from in the carol 'Good King Wenceslas')
2007-03-22 02:54:31 · answer #7 · answered by Uncle Sid 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
big ben is the bell
2007-03-21 07:50:11 · answer #8 · answered by lou 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because Ben is big.
2007-03-21 07:47:36 · answer #9 · answered by ropman1 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's the name of the Bell.
2007-03-21 07:43:57 · answer #10 · answered by little weed 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋