Probably as a protest against the weather the great clock struck in an unaccustomed fashion at 9.17, and puzzled passers-by for some time afterwards were anxiously comparing watches and theorising in horology and superstition. It is remembered that the clock certainly struck thirteen midnight within a few days of Queen Victoria’s death.Įarlier the same year, note the reference to superstition.īig Ben failed its numerous admirers on Tuesday night for first time for two years. Two months later, to the very day, his elder brother died.ġ906: There is a superstition that when Big Ben strikes thirteen at midnight a death may be expected in the Royal Family. The event was commented on and, the day being a critical one in the illness of Prince George, his name was, happily incorrectly, associated with the evil omen. At twelve o’clock on night of November 14, the members of a political club within a stone’s throw of the Houses of Parliament were astonished to hear the quarter chimes sounding simultaneously with the hour strikes, and to note that Big Ben struck 13 times. It is as follows: There is, it seems, a superstition that when Big Ben, the clock of Westminster, strikes irregularly at midnight, evil will befall the Royal House within three months. He particularly enjoyed the way that the ‘rules’ changed with every news story.ġ892: A most curious coincidence with regard to the death of the late Duke of Clarence has come under notice. Beach’s curiosity was aroused and sure enough a simple search brought up a few references from between the lines of history. ( Can this be right: drbeachcombing AT yahoo DOT com). It would hardly be surprising then that there are superstitions about Big Ben, but what is surprising is that these seem not to feature in folklore books on London. They had achieved what everyone else believed to be impossible while the clock was under construction.Big Ben the great bell that rings out from Westminster is a central part of British identity: not least because its chimes have, for many years, sounded on national radio and television programs. So, Denison and Edward Dent began to work together on the clock. In fact, Denison was a lawyer and clockmaking was only a hobby of his. Edmund Beckett Denison thought he might as well try. However, the clock tower was to have four faces, so everyone believed making the clock that accurate would be impossible. The committee made the decision that Airy should write up a list of requirements for the clock and to choose the design instead of Vulliamy.Īmong Airy’s many requirements was that the clock be so accurate though that it was never a second behind. George Airy did as Dent requested, and recommended Edward Dent to Charles Barry.

A rival clockmaker, Edward Dent, wrote to famed astronomer Sir George Airy and asked Airy recommend him for the job instead. With the help of his assistant, Augustus Welby Pugin, Barry added a clock tower to his design.īenjamin Lous Vulliamy, the Queen’s clockmaker, was was asked by Barry to design the clock for him. His original designs did not actually include a clock tower until Parliament requested he did so. A competition was held for the design of the Parliament’s new building and renowned architect Charles Barry won. Only a few pieces survived the fire, and were integrated into the new structures and buildings that exist today. (source: The Palace of Westminster was burned down on the night of October 16th, 1834.

History about big ben