Climbing the Clock Tower

The Clock Tower at Westminster

A few weeks ago, I saw in the activity calendar for AWC that a small group (who RSVPd first) would be able to climb up inside the Clock Tower at Westminster and stand next to Big Ben (the bell) while overlooking the city. Have we discussed my fear of heights? Well, I thought, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, so I'm signing up. I probably won't get a slot anyways, but I can always say 'I tried'. But no, I did. I got in.

So scardy-cat Kambry showed up with 15 other women, passports and visas in hand, to Portcullis House (where the Members of Parliament and PM office) one afternoon last week. Went through security, walked underneath the street in a stone corridor to the base of the Tower. Two other (very) pregnant ladies were on this small tour. So far, so good. I was ok, cool as a cucumber and very excited. Next up: 334 winding stone steps in a complete circular stone tower within THE Tower. Pretty excited when we reached the first landing and learned all about the history of the Tower. Second landing we were standing behind the big clock faces of milky white glass, and learned NOT to look down. Disappointed there were windows to look out on the way up those 334 steps. Everyone else thought it was 'great!' Not me... hehe. 'Just look at the next step in front of you, Kambry,' I told myself over and over. 'You will be so glad you did this.' By the third landing, oh my, we were in open air. Just us, Big Ben the great bell, and open air over London. I am sweating profusely even though it's like 35 degrees F outside. I got a little shaky and the sweet tour guide says, 'Honey, are you ok? Is it the baby?' 'Oh, no, definitely not the baby -- just me!' I just held onto the rail, heard more interesting facts, and my friend Kathy said, 'Won't this be great to tell your baby? He or she climbed to Big Ben with you before they were even born!' Put my ear plugs in, turned about one foot to my right, and watched as Big Ben tolled out 3 o'clock for the whole city to hear. At this point, very glad I did it, and really enjoying it. My dad asked me later, 'Kambry, how far could you see?' Like I was looking out. :) haha.

I made it back down the 334 steps and am still so glad I did it. That and the London Eye have really helped me over this whole issue and fear of heights, but let's be honest, one time on each is really enough :)

It was fascinating to see inside this great big Clock Tower and learn how it all works. A whole room about the size of our entire flat is devoted to the gigantic mechanisms. It keeps absolutely perfect time.

The Great Clock was installed in 1859 and its first tick was heard on May 31 of the same year. The Great Bell, Big Ben, began striking the hours on 11 July 1859.

The Clock Tower is constructed of brick and some iron. Although no longer accessible, there are rooms in the tower which were used in the past to detain MPs or peers for breach of conduct.

The Great Clock, Big Ben, is known as the world's most famous clock. A microphone enables the BBC to broadcast the Westminster chimes worldwide. This first took place on New Year's Eve 1923.

Beneath each clock face a Latin inscription reads:

'O, Lord, make safe our Queen Victoria the First.'

Behind the clock faces are banks of energy efficient electric bulbs. The clock faces were originally lit by gas. Above the belfry is the Ayrton Light. It was installed in 1885 and it is lit whenever either House (Lords or Commons) is sitting after dark. This was done only facing the direction of Buckingham Palace at Queen Victoria's request, but after her reign, the lights were installed on the other three sides so that everyone would know.

The clock's pendulum beats every two seconds. Weights, including some pre-decimal Victorian pennies, sit on a shelf on a pendulum rod to help regulate the perfect time.

Big Ben is thought to be named after Sir Benjamen Hall, Chief Commissioner of Works at the time the bell was installed.

The first bell was cast in 1856, cracked, had to be melted down and re-cast, so it is actually Big Ben the second.

Big Ben sounds in note E natural. The chimes are set to the following lines: 'All through this hour, Lord by my Guide. And by thy power, no foot shall slide.'

In order to climb the Clock Tower, you must be a resident of the UK and arrange the tour through a member of Parliament. In order to arrange a tour, you must be a citizen of the UK.

The hour hands on the clock faces weigh 300 kg each. The clock mechanisms weigh about 5 tons. The only times that Big Ben fell silent was during both World Wars.