Big Ben turns 150
LONDON, July 12 (UPI) — Big Ben, the world’s most famous bell ringing out the hours on the world’s most famous clock, celebrated its 150th anniversary Saturday in London.
A message was projected on the clock, The Daily Telegraph reported: “Happy Birthday, Big Ben, 150 years, 1859-2009.”
Most people use the name Big Ben to refer to the clock on the Houses of Parliament clock tower or to the entire tower. But the name originally applied only to the bell, which weighs almost 14 tons.