Talk:Big Ben

Semi-protected edit request on 25 October 2023

The year 1900 is in the 20th century, not the 19th 92.27.72.106 (talk) 22:33, 25 October 2023 (UTC)

 Not done: Technically, it is in the 19th century. For more information see Century#Start and end of centuries. Tollens (talk) 00:34, 26 October 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 13 April 2024

Could someone amend the spelling mistake "extention" to the correct "extension", in the first line of the article? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.240.56.144 (talk) 12:46, 13 April 2024 (UTC)

 Done – By another editor. Dhtwiki (talk) 20:38, 13 April 2024 (UTC)

Lifts in Big Ben

There are two lifts in Big Ben which are used by the maintenance team to access the Belfry. A passenger lift in the ventilation shaft and a platform lift from the top of the ventilation shaft to the Belfry. The lifts are used by the maintenance teams to access the clock workings and bells instead of walking up the 334 steps - https://www.stannahlifts.co.uk/case-studies/elevating-safety-and-accessibility-inside-well-loved-global-landmark 217.33.2.197 (talk) 09:20, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Name origin

Youtuber JDraper has found an article from the Times archive and shown it on video. she says the article is from 1856 and we can clearly see how the text of the article talks about how the bell just arrived in Westminster. The article also states that "Big Ben" has been proposed as a name in honor of Benjamin Hall. So if someone has the patience to verify the archives and make at link to the times article, the wiki article could be updated. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 109.137.68.147 (talk) 15:55, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

The YouTube video is here. The Londonist gives a rundown of relevant press articles. In their list the text apparently found in The Times archive was, at least in part, first printed in the Evening Standard of 22 October 1856. Dhtwiki (talk) 04:56, 2 August 2024 (UTC)

Lead, should it be Big Ben or Elizabeth Tower?

It seems there is a dispute whether to start this article with "Big Ben" or with the "Elizabeth Tower" at the beginning. AFAIAA this article has always started with "Big Ben" until @A.D.Hope changed it in October 2023 and since re-instated it. May be a slow edit war? Better for a discussion. Under MOS:BOLDLEAD ideally we start with the article title as its WP:COMMONNAME rather than use the uncommon "official name", unless this article is to be moved to Elizabeth Tower?

Pinging those who appear to have disputed it since the change was first made last year, @Dr Greg, @SilkTork, to explain their reasoning for some consensus. DankJae 18:21, 23 August 2024 (UTC)

The reasoning for having 'Elizabeth Tower' first, as far as I'm concerned, is simply that it's easier for readers to explain the terminology that way. I realise that this will always be somewhat subjective, but in my opinion

Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster, and, by extension, for the clock tower itself, which stands at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England. Originally known simply as the Clock Tower, it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

Does not flow well, and it is unsatisfactory (although not massively) that the official name is left to the second sentence. As a side note, I'm fairly sure that 'Great Bell' and 'Great Clock' should not be in bold, and that the clock is not actually called the 'Great Clock'. A.D.Hope (talk) 21:32, 23 August 2024 (UTC)

I agree that the title of the article should be recapitulated early in the lead. Also, "Elizabeth Tower" is both long-winded and of recent vintage, however official and deservedly so. How many people naturally refer to the clock and its tower by the latter designation? Dhtwiki (talk) 23:03, 23 August 2024 (UTC)

I disagree that a two word name of fourteen letters in total is 'long winded'. A.D.Hope (talk) 08:00, 24 August 2024 (UTC)