The History of the Bell and Clock

Big Ben was the largest bell in England for over 20 years until Great Paul, and even more ginormous bell was put into St. Paul's Cathedral in 1881. Big Ben continues to ring to this day, although with a slightly different sound since cracking. The clock hands have stopped on occasion due to the weight of so much snow sitting on them stopping their movement. During both world wars, the clock lights were turned off, so enemy planes couldn't bomb the tower. And the bell was silenced on January 30th, 1965, during the funeral of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.