Sunday, September 15, 2013

The Great Clock

The dial of the Great Clock by Augustus Pugin
Palace of Westminster, Parliament Square
London

The dial of the Great Clock by Augustus Pugin
Palace of Westminster
Parliament Square
London, October 2009

“The clock and dials were designed by Augustus Pugin. The clock dials are set in an iron frame 23 feet (7.0 m) in diameter, supporting 312 pieces of opal glass, rather like a stained-glass window. Some of the glass pieces may be removed for inspection of the hands. The surround of the dials is gilded. At the base of each clock dial in gilt letters is the Latin inscription:
DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM
Which means O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First.” (Big Ben, Wikipedia)