The old Houses of Parliament burn down in a devastating fire, leaving only a few fragments surviving. This event sets the stage for the construction of the more impressive Houses of Parliament that exist today.

After a fierce competition with 97 entrants, Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin's grand gothic plans for the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament are announced on leap day. Despite concerns about the cost, their scheme wins unanimous approval.

In 1843, the construction work started on the Clock Tower, which later became famously known as Big Ben.

A competition is organized to select the builder of the clock, with Sir George Airy serving as the referee. Due to accuracy stipulations, it takes seven years to finalize the designs.

In 1851, Edmund Beckett Denison designed a double three-legged gravity escapement for Big Ben's clock, ensuring unprecedented accuracy by preventing external influences from affecting the swing of the pendulum.

John Dent is chosen to construct the clock based on the designs by Edmund Beckett Denison. This is the same year the New Palace of Westminster is opened by Queen Victoria.

In 1853, Dent passes away, and his stepson, Frederick Dent, takes over the project.

The clock mechanism is finished, marking a significant milestone in the construction of Big Ben.

The 'Great Bell' known as Big Ben was cast on 6 August 1856 in Stockton-on-Tees by John Warner & Sons. It was originally intended to be named 'Victoria' or 'Royal Victoria' in honour of Queen Victoria.

On November 13, 1856, Big Ben, the largest bell in England, was tested for the first time in public, creating a booming resonance that amazed the spectators.

On October 24, 1857, Big Ben rang out at a different pitch due to a deep crack in the metal, leading to its removal and melting down.

The original Big Ben bell cracked during testing and had to be recast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The new 13.5-ton bell was transported to the Clock Tower and installed after the first replacement also cracked.

In 1858, a brand new Big Ben, recast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, was publicly aired for the first time in Whitechapel, causing astonishment and alarm in the vicinity. It was later transported to New Palace Yard.

On October 14, 1858, the great bell of Big Ben was raised into the tower. Initially intended to be named 'Royal Victoria' in honor of Queen Victoria, it eventually became known as Big Ben.

The Great Clock at Big Ben begins functioning on May 31st.

On July 11, 1859, the second bell of Big Ben was rung for the first time, with one commentator describing its noise as unearthly and miserable. It was not well-received by the public.

The name Big Ben originally referred to the Great Bell, which was first struck on September 7, 1859, inside the Elizabeth Tower.

In 1862, the bell of Big Ben developed a crack and was repaired. The second casting of the bell was made by George Mears of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.

In November 1863, the patched Big Ben resumed tolling after maintenance. The tone was noted to be more subdued compared to its earlier years, and it has been in service with occasional stoppages since then.

The Ayrton Light, added in 1873 by Acton Smee Ayrton, is a lantern above the belfry of Big Ben that is lit whenever the House of Commons sits after dark. It was originally positioned to be visible from Buckingham Palace.

The oak-paneled Prison Room inside Big Ben, accessed only from the House of Commons, was last used in 1880 when Charles Bradlaugh was imprisoned for protesting against swearing a religious oath of allegiance to Queen Victoria.

The 'Great Paul' bell, which surpassed Big Ben as the largest bell in the British Isles, was cast in 1881 and is currently hung in St Paul's Cathedral.

Around 1882, the clock tower of Big Ben was repurposed as London's tallest stink pipe to address odious smells in the chambers, as it was not properly connected to Bazalgette's sewers and still relied on cess pits.

In 1885, a new beacon named the Ayrton light was fitted on the top of Big Ben, shining out lighthouse-like whenever either House sits after dark. It was named after Acton Smee Ayrton who suggested it.

Around 1905, Big Ben started to appear on every bottle of HP Sauce after the condiment received approval from the palace's canteen. HP is believed to stand for 'Houses of Parliament' sauce.

At the funeral of King Edward VII in 1910, Big Ben chimed 68 times, symbolizing each year of the monarch's life.

During World War I, Big Ben's bells were silenced and the clock faces were not illuminated at night to avoid guiding attacking German Zeppelins. The bells were restored to mark the end of the war.

On the 11th hour of the 11th of November 1918, the bells of Big Ben began to toll again, symbolically marking the end of World War I.

On New Year's Eve in 1923, BBC Radio first broadcasts Big Ben's chimes to the United Kingdom.

Since 1924, the chimes of Big Ben have been broadcast as a daily time signal by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), in coordination with the Royal Greenwich Observatory.

In 1932, Big Ben's strikes are broadcast internationally for the first time as part of King George V's Christmas broadcast by the Empire Service.

In 1934, the bell of Big Ben was restored and repaired. This restoration work aimed to maintain the iconic bell's functionality.

During the funeral of King George V in 1936, Big Ben chimed 70 times, representing each year of the monarch's life.

During the period from April 1939 to April 1945, the clock dials of Big Ben were unlit as a result of wartime blackout regulations.

Throughout World War II, the clock faces of Big Ben were not illuminated at night to avoid guiding bomber pilots during the Blitz. The bells, however, continued to ring.

In 1940, there was a German radio announcement claiming that Big Ben struck thirteen at midnight, invoking triskaidekaphobia as part of the propaganda war.

During a German bombing raid, Big Ben's dials and sections of the tower's roof were damaged, and the House of Commons chamber was destroyed. The clock continued to run accurately and chime throughout the Blitz.

The clock of Big Ben stopped for a day after a workman repairing air-raid damage left a hammer too close to the mechanism. It resumed functioning the next morning.

The clock hands of Big Ben stopped due to a mechanical failure, specifically a broken pendulum suspension spring. The broken part was replaced within a few hours.

Extremely cold temperatures froze the rubber bushings on the quarter-bell hammers of Big Ben, preventing the chimes from sounding for a day. The BBC broadcast the time signals during this period.

In 1949, a flock of starlings perching on the minute hand of Big Ben caused the clock to slow by four and a half minutes, showcasing a unique incident affecting the iconic clock.

At the funeral of King George VI in 1952, Big Ben chimed 56 times, marking each year of the monarch's life.

In 1956, the bell of Big Ben underwent repair and restoration. This maintenance work was crucial for preserving the historical significance of the bell.

In 1959, an exhibition opened in the nearby Jewel Tower to commemorate 100 years of Big Ben. The exhibition showcased original drawings, models, and early photographs related to the iconic clock. Despite a slow start with only 91 visitors in the first week, the number of attendees gradually increased over time.

In 1962, the stroke of New Year was delayed by nine minutes due to a snowfall. This unexpected event caused a delay in the New Year celebration, which would have been broadcasted live on worldwide TV if it had happened today.

On August 5, 1970, an internal failure caused damage to the mechanism of Big Ben, leading to the clock being stopped for almost a month for repairs. This incident disrupted the regular functioning of the iconic clock.

Before the decimalization of the UK currency in 1971, the pendulum of Big Ben was adjusted by adding pre-decimal pennies to the weight, with each penny causing the clock to gain 0.4 seconds per day.

A mechanical failure in 1976 causes serious damage to the Great Clock at Big Ben, leading to it being silent for nearly nine months.

In 1980, the BBC announced a controversial plan to give Big Ben a new digital readout and offer the clock's hands to the first four people to contact the station. The proposal, revealed on April 1st, sparked shock and anger among listeners who flooded the broadcaster with complaints.

The clock tower, along with the Palace of Westminster, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, highlighting its global cultural importance.

In December 1999, the sounds of Big Ben marked the beginning of the new Millennium, with the chimes being broadcasted on television and radio. Cameras in the belfry allowed viewers to see and hear the iconic moment of twelve o'clock being struck on the bells.

The clock tower's 'Quarter Bells' were taken out of commission for four weeks due to a worn bearing. BBC Radio 4 broadcast British bird song and pips during this period.

Big Ben and the quarter bells were silenced from 11 August to 1 October for essential maintenance work on the Great Clock.

In 2008, a survey of 2,000 people found that Big Ben was the most popular landmark in the United Kingdom. It has also been named as the most iconic film location in London.

Throughout 2009, various special events were held to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Big Ben, commemorating its historical significance.

At the close of the 2010 general election polls, the national exit poll results were displayed on the south side of Big Ben.

In 2011, experts cautioned about the potential future problem of Big Ben's slight lean, estimated to become critical between 4,000 and 10,000 years from then.

On 27 July 2012, Big Ben chimed 30 times to welcome the Games of the 30th Olympiad to London.

On 12 September 2012, the name of the Clock Tower was officially changed to Elizabeth Tower in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The renaming ceremony was attended by various dignitaries.

The bells were silenced as a mark of respect during the funeral of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Maintenance crews discovered the clock running seven seconds fast. Coins were removed from its pendulum to correct the error, causing it to run slow for a period.

In October 2015, reports from British newspapers emphasized the urgent need for repairs on Big Ben, warning of potential malfunctions or structural issues if maintenance is not carried out.

On August 14, 2017, Parliament announces that Big Ben will fall silent from August 21 until 2021 for repairs estimated to cost around £29 million. This marks a significant period of silence for the iconic clock.

Big Ben was silenced for restoration work, including the installation of a lift shaft to make public tours more accessible. The iconic clock would not chime regularly until 2022.

In a statement on September 29, 2017, the House of Commons reveals that the estimated cost of repairs for Big Ben has more than doubled from £29 million to £61 million. This increase highlights the challenges in preserving the historic landmark.

Restoration work allowed people to see the Big Ben clock face without its hands for the first time in living memory.

After two years of restoration, the blue color of the original clock faces was revealed, restoring them to their initial appearance before being covered in soot and smog.

After a period of four years of silence, Big Ben is scheduled to ring on New Year's Eve, signifying a symbolic moment.

During the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, Big Ben chimed 96 times, signifying each year of the monarch's life.

Big Ben chimes to mark a minute's silence as a national moment of reflection for Queen Elizabeth II, as announced by the Parliament's official Twitter account.

Big Ben chimes on Remembrance Sunday, indicating its return to regular service after a period of restoration.

The clock dials stopped at 12:55, and Big Ben did not chime at 13:00. The clock was five minutes slow until rectified at 13:47.