Minor British Institutions: Little Ben
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A minor version of its much more famous namesake, Little Ben is a miniature – well, 30ft – replica of Big Ben that can be found, slightly forlornly, on a traffic island near to Victoria station.
Most of it dates back to 1892 (its Big Brother was "born" in 1859), when it was manufactured by Gillett and Johnston of Croydon, and it is a sort of urban folly. Of cast iron and bearing its sibling's impressively neo-gothic features on its four faces, it was removed in 1964 when the road was widened, and almost lost.
But in 1981, as a gesture of Franco-British friendship and to mark the royal wedding of Charles and Diana, the Elf Aquitaine oil company footed the £30,000 bill to restore it.
Little Ben cannot always be relied upon; it sticks to British Summer Time, even though an inscription on the clock reads: "My hands you may retard or may advance; my heart beats true for England as for France". A replica of Little Ben, this time "full size", can be found in Victoria, capital of the Seychelles.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments