Big Ben
Big Ben - more correctly named, The Elizabeth Tower (Palace of Westminster) holds a prominent position overlooking the River Thames and the Houses of Parliament, and was a highly visible target for enemy aircraft during WWII.
To prevent the bell tower’s sound from aiding enemy aircraft the clock’s chimes were silenced for the duration of the conflict.
Despite this precaution the Tower was not immune to the devastation of German bombs during the Blitz. On May 10th 1941, a German bombing raid inflicted damage on the Houses of Parliament and the surrounding area including the clock tower itself. The explosion shattered windows, scorched the façade and damaged the clock faces.
Remarkably, even after the attack, the clock mechanism within the scarred and battered tower, continued to function with it usual accuracy.
On May 9th, 1945 following Germany’s surrender, the clock’s chimes rang out once again, to mark the end of hostilities in Europe.
The pleasant melody sounded by the bells of the tower, known as the “Westminster Quarters” is made up of four musical notes that are played every quarter hour by the so-called “quarters bells“ that surround Big Ben itself. The great bell chimes on the hour and the number of chimes corresponds to the hour.
A prayer is associated with the melody and is inscribed on a plaque in the clock room. It reads:
