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UK Parliament Profile picture
@UKParliament
Feb 11, 2020 • 18 tweets • 4 min read • Read on X
A UNESCO World Heritage site, a British cultural landmark and the UK's most famous clock...that's right, we're talking about #BigBen in the Elizabeth Tower!

Over the last 3 years experts have been restoring the Tower - let's test your knowledge...

📷: UK Parliament/Mark Duffy Two workers on scaffolding ...
How much does Big Ben (The Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower) weigh? ⚖️
Who designed the Elizabeth Tower? ✏️
When was the Elizabeth Tower completed? 📅
Which is tallest: the Victoria Tower or the Elizabeth Tower? 📏
What does the Ayrton Light do? 💡
The Elizabeth Tower got its current name in 2012, to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

What is one of the names the Tower has previously gone by?
How many bricks were used to build the Elizabeth Tower? 🧱
Urgent renovation works have been happening on the Elizabeth Tower since 2017, and are due to be finished in 2021. But why are these happening?

There are lots of reasons these need to happen now ⏬

📷: UK Parliament/Mark Duffy Image
Put simply:

⚙️ To keep the clock working

🗝️ To conserve historical elements of the Tower

⛑️ To improve health and safety and fire protection systems

♻️ To reduce the Tower's environmental impact

↕️ To put in a lift to make the Tower accessible

📷: UK Parliament/Mark Duffy Image
Still missing Big Ben's distinctive chimes? If you can't wait for the full restoration, soothe yourself with this throwback from 2017:
🕠Time for some quiz answers!

Most of you were right with this first one - Big Ben himself weighs in at 13.7 tonnes.

Just a quarter of quiz answerers got this one - the Elizabeth Tower was designed by Augustus Pugin.

However, almost everyone was spot on here! The Elizabeth Tower was indeed completed in 1859 - last year, we celebrated 160 years of the Tower.

The Victoria Tower is actually the taller of the two towers- just! It stands at 98m, whereas the Elizabeth Tower measures 96m.

The purpose of the Ayrton Light is to show when the Houses are sitting! However, it does also look nice.

The Elizabeth Tower was previously referred to as St Stephen's Tower by Victorian journalists.

As MPs used to sit in St Stephen's Hall, the journalists referred to anything to do with the House of Commons as "news from St Stephen's".

It actually took 2600 cubic metres of bricks to build the Elizabeth Tower - and 850 cubic metres of stone! 🧱

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More from @UKParliament

UK Parliament Profile picture
Nov 14, 2023
Can you guess what this Parliamentary object is 🔎? #UpClose

Submit your guess ⬇️ A close up photo of round wooden objects with numbers engraved on them.
🤔
...let's have a look #UpClose at the ballot which is drawn at the start of every session in Parliament for Private Members' Bills.

This is a proposed change in the law that is suggested by an MP who isn't a government minister. The balls for the Private Members' Bill ballot are drawn from a glass bowl by the clerk. One ball is being handed to the Deputy Speaker.
Read 5 tweets
UK Parliament Profile picture
Oct 2, 2020
Are you a university student or graduate planning your first career steps? 👩🏽‍🎓👨🏿‍🎓

The UK Parliament Fast Stream programme for 2021 is now open.

Apply now, and in a year you could start your placement in the @HouseofCommons or @UKHouseofLords.
Looking for a different role at @UKParliament?

We're #hiring a Head of #Conservation #Architecture who can
📐 oversee the strategy for building conservation
🏗️ keep the programme of conservation works up to date
😃 be a great team leader

Apply now 👉🏽 housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/… Head of Conservation Architecture. £63,716+, 30 days' ann
We're also #hiring a Principal Doorkeeper who can:

🚪 lead a busy team of 22 Doorkeepers
👑 ensure the smooth running of ceremonial events
🔑 remain calm and prioritise in a fast-paced environment

Apply now 👉🏿 housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/… Principal Doorkeeper. £38,625+, 30 days' annual leave, Ci
Read 4 tweets
UK Parliament Profile picture
Sep 24, 2020
📢 Calling all university students and graduates!

Today we're opening the UK Parliament Fast Stream programme for 2021.

Apply now, and in a year you could start your placement in the @HouseofCommons or @UKHouseofLords. The Parliament Fast Stream ...
As a Fast Streamer here, you’ll work with politicians from all parties to scrutinise Government policy and support the UK’s democratic process.

You might manage evidence sessions for a select committee inquiry, or work in the Chambers assisting in the passage of legislation.
It's a challenging role, but you'll be supported every step of the way. And you'll earn £27-30k while you're on the programme.

The Fast Stream is open for applications now. Find out more ⬇️

faststream.gov.uk/houses-of-parl…
Read 5 tweets
UK Parliament Profile picture
Sep 18, 2020
Recently we've shared the people, stories, and secret histories behind 150 years of the Palace of Westminster. See what you've learned in our quiz! ⬇️

(🤫 Psst: No one sees your choices, so don't worry about getting it wrong! We'll be back with answers later.)

#Westminster150
1. Which duo built the Palace of Westminster 150 years ago?
2. How was the Great Fire of 1834 started?
Read 13 tweets
UK Parliament Profile picture
Sep 16, 2020
Today is #AskACurator Day, and we have 3 specialist curators answering your questions on our Parliamentary Art, Historic Furniture and Architectural Fabric Collections! 🖼️🚪🪑

Let's hear your questions and their answers ⏬
First over to our Parliamentary Art expert Melanie 🎨🖼️✏️

💬 "How many works are hidden away in storage? Do they get put on display in rotation?" ❓

80% of our 9,000 artworks are on display - a high percentage compared to many museums. We do rotate the works on display - some are fragile and can only be displayed for short periods. A range of artworks on disp...
Read 19 tweets
UK Parliament Profile picture
Sep 15, 2020
Today is International Day of Democracy 2020 🎉🗳️🗣️ #DemocracyDay2020 #DemocracyDay

Here are five ways you can get your voice heard with UK Parliament ⬇️
1. You can create an e-petition or sign an existing one 📝

Petitions with 10k signatures receive a formal reply from the Government. Those with over 100k signatures are considered for a debate in Parliament.

Search for the issues that matter to you:
petition.parliament.uk
2. You can contact your MP about a cause you feel strongly about 📨

Your MP represents you in the @HouseofCommons whether or not you voted for them. They can ask questions or discuss issues in a debate.

Find your MP by entering your postcode
members.parliament.uk/findyourmp
Read 7 tweets

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