2-979-691 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Clock-Tower and Speaker's Residence, New Houses of Parliament, [London], 1857. The tower in which "Big Ben" is housed was originally known as St Stephen's Tower. View of '...the river front facing the Thames, from whose banks [the tower] rises majestically...The total height of the tower to the top of the finial is 310 feet. The roof is composed of cast iron, galvanised; the finial at top is of wrought copper, gilt; and the total weight of the roof is estimated at 300 tons...The walls have been erected under two contractors - the lower part to the Clock-Tower, we believe, by Mr. Grissell; the upper by Mr. Jay, the contractor at the present time for the New Palace works. The sculptural decorations are by Mr. John Thomas, of the Alpha-road; and the metal roof by Mr. Jabez James. The ornamental work in metal is partly by James and Hardman, of Birmingham. The gilding is by Mr. Crace'. From "Illustrated London News", 1857.