BigBenisoneofLondon'sbest-knownlandmarks,andlooksmostspectacularatnightwhentheclockfacesareilluminated.Youevenknowwhenparliamentisinsession,becausealightshinesabovetheclockface. 　　Thefourdialsoftheclockare23feetsquare,theminutehandis14feetlongandthefiguresare2feethigh.Minutelyregulatedwithastackofcoinsplacedonthehugependulum,BigBenisanexcellenttimekeeper,whichhasrarelystopped. 　　ThenameBigBenactuallyrefersnottotheclock-toweritself,buttothethirteentonbellhungwithin.Thebellwasnamedafterthefirstcommissionerofworks,SirBenjaminHall. 　　hisbellcameoriginallyfromtheoldPalaceofWestminster,itwasgiventotheDeanofSt.Paul'sbyWilliamIII.BeforereturningtoWestminstertohanginitspresenthome,itwasrefashionedinWhitechapelin1858.TheBBCfirstbroadcastthechimesonthe31stDecember1923-thereisamicrophoneintheturretconnectedtoBroadcastingHouse. 　　Duringthesecondworldwarin1941,anincendiarybombdestroyedtheCommonschamberoftheHousesofParliament,buttheclocktowerremainedintactandBigBencontinuedtokeeptimeandstrikeawaythehours,itsuniquesoundwasbroadcasttothenationandaroundtheworld,awelcomereassuranceofhopetoallwhoheardit. 　　ThereareevencellswithintheclocktowerwhereMembersofParliamentcanbeimprisonedforabreachofparliamentaryprivilege,thoughthisisrare;thelastrecordedcasewasin1880. 　　Thetowerisnotopentothegeneralpublic,butthosewitha"specialinterest"mayarrangeavisittothetopoftheClockTowerthroughtheirlocal(UK)MP.