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| Big Ben marks 150th anniversary | Big Ben marks 150th anniversary |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| One of London's most famous attractions, Big Ben, is celebrating its 150th anniversary. | |
| The clock tower in Parliament Square, Westminster, is being given a spring clean following a year of activities in recognition of the landmark. | The clock tower in Parliament Square, Westminster, is being given a spring clean following a year of activities in recognition of the landmark. |
| Technically Big Ben refers only to the clock's largest bell, but has become synonymous with the clock tower itself. | Technically Big Ben refers only to the clock's largest bell, but has become synonymous with the clock tower itself. |
| The bell, cast in Whitechapel on 10 April 1858, was first rung in the Great Westminster Clock on 31 May 1859. | The bell, cast in Whitechapel on 10 April 1858, was first rung in the Great Westminster Clock on 31 May 1859. |
| 'Entirely clockwork' | 'Entirely clockwork' |
| "It's a typical piece of Victorian engineering," said Mike McCann, the keeper of the great clock. | "It's a typical piece of Victorian engineering," said Mike McCann, the keeper of the great clock. |
| "It will last for hundreds of years. Mainly we wind it three times a week. It is clockwork. | "It will last for hundreds of years. Mainly we wind it three times a week. It is clockwork. |
| "A lot of people seem to think that it's some sort of electronic clock but it's entirely clockwork, driven by weights which need winding. | "A lot of people seem to think that it's some sort of electronic clock but it's entirely clockwork, driven by weights which need winding. |
| "So the main maintenance work really is winding it three times a week, oiling it and keeping it accurate." | "So the main maintenance work really is winding it three times a week, oiling it and keeping it accurate." |
| The clock tower and the new Palace of Westminster, designed by Charles Barry, were built after a fire destroyed much of the old Houses of Parliament in 1834. | The clock tower and the new Palace of Westminster, designed by Charles Barry, were built after a fire destroyed much of the old Houses of Parliament in 1834. |
| Last year, Big Ben was named Britain's favourite attraction in a poll of more than 2,000 adults. | Last year, Big Ben was named Britain's favourite attraction in a poll of more than 2,000 adults. |