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Big Ben

The name of the bell which is situated on the iconic clocktower that stands above parliament in London, England. The official name of the tower is St. Stephen's Tower, but it is due to be renamed to Elizabeth Tower to mark Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee.

The origins of the name are under dispute, but the most likely and widely accepted explanation is that it is named after the engineer Benjamin Hall, whose name is inscribed on the bell.

The tower was constructed in 1858 and is styled as gothic revival architecture. Its iconographic value is frequently exploited in movies and TV shows for establishing shots to indicate the setting of London.

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