Big Ben to be renamed: Elizabeth Tower

[Reece]

Britain's famed parliament clock tower Big Ben is set to be renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honor of the queen's diamond jubilee, a report said Friday. Prime Minister David Cameron is among 331 lawmakers who have signed up to a campaign to bestow the tribute to Queen Elizabeth to mark her 60th year on the throne, the Daily Mail reported. The Guardian also reported the majority backing for the proposal. It mirrors an honor bestowed on Queen Victoria the first British monarch to celebrate a diamond jubilee, back in 1897 -- after whom the square tower at the other end of the Houses of Parliament was renamed. "It is great news that so many MPs from across the House are backing what would be a fitting tribute to the queen. I hope it will now move ahead," the Mail quoted Cameron as saying. The 316-foot tower is formally known as the Clock Tower, but it is commonly called Big Ben after the huge bell that it holds, whose distinctive "bongs" sound out the hours in central London. Lawmakers accepted that the iconic tower, which looms over the 19-century Gothic revival parliament, would continue to be known colloquially as Big Ben, but said that its formal name should honor Queen Elizabeth. The House of Commons Commission, the governing body of the British parliament, will meet by the end of June and is expected to agree on the renaming of Big Ben, the Daily Mail said. Big Ben was in the news in January this year when the commission discussed how to manage a tilt affecting the tower. The tilt is 0.26 degrees to the northwest and has increased very slightly since 2003, although an expert study found it was unlikely to be a problem for 10,000 years. Britain is holding four days of celebrations beginning on Saturday to mark Elizabeth II's jubilee, including a 1,000-boat river pageant and a star-studded concert.

[Alfreddo.]

Big Ben is an old name IT SHOULD BE KEEPED! 

[Ratko Gavrilovic]

^

[Caltson]

The Clocktower's name has never been 'The Big Ben', I believe it was the Clock that bears that name.

[Reece]

While the formal name of the tower may be changed to "Elizabeth Tower" from "Clock Tower" the actual bell is still called Big Ben and people will still refer to it as Big Ben. I'm not going to go around and start calling it Elizabeth Tower.

[Ratko Gavrilovic]

The Clocktower's name has never been 'The Big Ben', I believe it was the Clock that bears that name.

Indeed. The tower's name is the Palace of Westminster.

[Reece]

The tower's name is the Palace of Westminster.

No it isn't. The Palace of Westminster is the whole building that houses the Houses of Parliament. The towers name it simply "the Clock Tower".

[Radagast]

Actually it's the Great Westminster Clock... :roll:

[Ratko Gavrilovic]

No it isn't. The Palace of Westminster is the whole building that houses the Houses of Parliament. The towers name it simply "the Clock Tower".

Just checked an article and I stand corrected.

Actually it's the Great Westminster Clock... :roll:

The Big Ben is the Bell inside the clock. The tower is the Clock Tower and the whole building is the Palace of Westminster.

[Reece]

That face is called the Great Westminster Clock. The whole tower is called the Clock Tower and the main bell is called Big Ben.

[Gandalf]

Could someone give notice to the Parliament that this will cause international hilarity ?
The word 'Ben' is in Russian an old synonym for penis.
There for the poosibility of a Big Ben being inside Queen Elizabeth's Tower might cause some laughter....

[Karmps.]

Could someone give notice to the Parliament that this will cause international hilarity ?
The word 'Ben' is in Russian an old synonym for penis.
There for the poosibility of a Big Ben being inside Queen Elizabeth's Tower might cause some laughter....

...Well said.

[JDC]

Could someone give notice to the Parliament that this will cause international hilarity ?
The word 'Ben' is in Russian an old synonym for penis.
There for the poosibility of a Big Ben being inside Queen Elizabeth's Tower might cause some laughter....

I can already imagine eastern europeans laughing as they watch the televised news broadcast. :devroll:

[Mikal]

Could someone give notice to the Parliament that this will cause international hilarity ?
The word 'Ben' is in Russian an old synonym for penis.
There for the poosibility of a Big Ben being inside Queen Elizabeth's Tower might cause some laughter....

Theres a big Ben inside queen Elizibeths tower.

[Ted]

Could someone give notice to the Parliament that this will cause international hilarity ?
The word 'Ben' is in Russian an old synonym for penis.
There for the poosibility of a Big Ben being inside Queen Elizabeth's Tower might cause some laughter....

The Queen isn't impressed with your comments