Big Ben: At the stroke of midnight... | An Architectural Icon | Ep. 102

As the resonant peals of the Great Bell usher in the New Year, we turn our eyes to the Elizabeth Tower; the neo-gothic sentinel that is universally - if erroneously - known as 'Big Ben'!In this New Year's special episode, Rory helps deconstruct the architectural swan song of Augustus Pugin, whose feverish medieval detailing perfectly complements Charles Barry’s structural ambition. We venture beyond the gilded clock face to explore the Victorian horological engineering within, examining how this Westminster icon became the unshakeable metronome of British life.Join us as we traverse the history of the world’s most famous four-faced clock, celebrating the design, the restoration, and the enduring symbolism behind the dings and dongs that ring out hope for the year ahead.If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit. For more information, please visit our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.