The design of the clock mechanism would also set
new standards in the fi eld of clock making and add
further complications to the construction process. After a
competition, the task was given to Edward John
Dent (1790-1853) in February 1852 and he set about
designing a mechanism that would live up to the then unheard
demands that the fi rst stroke of each hour should be accurate
to within one second. It took seven years before the clock
began keeping time on 31st May 1859; the construction
of the tower itself was delayed, Dent passed away, and
modifi cations had to be made when it was discovered that
the clock mechanism was larger than the actual space allowed.
Big Ben was the unoffi cial name given to the tower’s
Great Bell. It was the largest bell in the Britain at the time
and named after either Sir Benjamin Hall, the fi rst Works
Commissioner, or Ben Caunt, a champion heavyweight boxer. The
fi rst Great Bell was cast in Stockton-on-Tees and transported to
© parliament.uk© parliament.uk
5
21013_BI_IN.indd 5 20/01/12 12.23
To Next Page
Loading...
