In the middle of London, there's a famous building that keeps track of time and is important to the country's history. It's called Big Ben, and it's been around for more than 150 years. But something surprising happened – the ringing sounds of this old clock were stopped for four years, from 2017 to 2021. They stopped because people needed to take care of and fix the clock. This break made a big pause in the city's rhythm, and it made people think about why Big Ben is special and how it was made.
Big Ben is a tall tower that stands at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. People often call the tower "Big Ben," but that's actually the name of the big bell inside it. This tower is very famous all over the world, and it looks like a work of art from a long time ago.
The big bell, or Big Ben, is amazing not just because it's really big, but also because it makes beautiful ringing sounds. These sounds have been heard in London since 1859. The bell is as wide and tall as a big room and weighs a lot – about as much as 13 small cars! When it makes a sound, it plays the musical note "E" and you can hear it from all over London. This sound is part of what makes London special.
Inside the clock, there are many small parts that work together to make the hands move and the sounds ring. The clock's parts are very interesting. It has a special part called an escapement that is pushed by a heavy pendulum. This makes the clock tick and keeps its time right. The clock also has four big faces that are 7 metres across.
On this day 21st August 2017, the ringing of Big Ben stopped. This was a big decision because it had never happened before. The reason was that the tower and the clock needed fixing. The tower was getting old and broken, and the clock's parts needed to be checked and fixed. People were worried about the tower falling apart, so they decided to stop the ringing for a while.
Some people didn't like this decision because they thought Big Ben was really important and the ringing was part of London's history. But the people who wanted to keep Big Ben safe won the argument, and the ringing stopped at noon.
For four years, a group of engineers and craftsmen worked really hard to fix the tower and the clock. They fixed the stones on the tower and the small parts inside the clock. They also added new things to help the clock keep time better.
Finally, the ringing of Big Ben started again on November 9, 2021. This was a big deal, and people were very happy. Fixing the tower and the clock didn't just help them work better, but it also made sure they would stay a special part of London for a long time.
As Big Ben's ringing started again, it reminded everyone that even things that are really old and famous need to be taken care of so they don't disappear. We have to commit to taking care of our treasures from the past.
Check your understanding
What is the name of the famous building in London that keeps track of time and is important to the country's history?
Why were the ringing sounds of Big Ben's clock stopped for four years, from 2017 to 2021?
What makes the big bell, known as Big Ben, amazing and special?
What is the purpose of the escapement in the clock's mechanism?
Why did some people disagree with the decision to stop the ringing of Big Ben?
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