Little Ben facts for kids
Little Ben is a cool, mini clock tower in central London. It's made of cast iron, which is a strong type of metal. You can find it where Vauxhall Bridge Road and Victoria Street meet, not far from Victoria station.
This little tower looks a lot like the famous Big Ben at the Palace of Westminster. Big Ben is at the other end of Victoria Street. Little Ben is like its smaller, younger sibling!
Contents
The Story of Little Ben
Little Ben was built in 1892 by a company called Gillett & Johnston from Croydon. It stood proudly for many years.
In 1964, it was taken down. But don't worry, it came back! In 1981, the Westminster City Council brought it back to life. A French company, Elf Aquitaine Ltd, helped pay for its return. This was a friendly gift between France and Britain.
A Poem and Time Zones
On the clock tower, you can find a short poem. It talks about how the clock's hands can be moved forward or backward.
My hands you may retard or may advance
my heart beats true for England as for France.
This poem was a hint about a plan. The idea was for Little Ben to always show Daylight Saving Time. This would mean it showed the correct time for France in winter and for the UK in summer. However, this plan either changed or was never fully used. Now, Little Ben follows the same time as other clocks in Great Britain. It shows Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and British Summer Time (BST) in summer.
A Twin in Seychelles
Did you know Little Ben has a twin far away? In 1903, a copy of Little Ben was put up in Victoria, the capital of Seychelles. This twin is called Lorloz and is painted silver. It was built to celebrate Queen Victoria's 60 years on the throne in 1897.
Little Ben's Recent Adventures
In 2012, Little Ben was moved again. This time, it was stored away while London Victoria station was being updated. After getting a good clean and repair, the clock tower was put back in its spot on February 28, 2016.
Protecting Little Ben
Little Ben is an important part of London's history. Because of this, it was given a special status in December 1987. It was "listed Grade II" on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's a building of special interest and needs to be protected.
See also
In Spanish: Little Ben para niños
