The Hindu : Other States / Uttar Pradesh News : India's `Big Ben' set to chime again

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Wednesday, Sep 15, 2004

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Other States - Uttar Pradesh

India's `Big Ben' set to chime again

LUCKNOW, SEPT. 14. The bell of the over a century-old clock tower here would soon chime through the old city again, bringing back memories of a bygone era.

The tallest clock tower in India situated at Hussainabad here is undergoing major repair at a cost of Rs.9 lakh and in the next two months it would be functional again.

The 230-feet-tall tower is considered next only to London's Big Ben.

Once repaired by Bareilly's famous clock maker Ehtesam Ahmed, the clock would need a weekly winding. A full winding takes a good 15 minutes. But the tedious part is climbing the 250 wooden steps to reach to the clock.

The total expenditure is expected to be Rs. 9 lakh. Hussainabad trust would contribute Rs. 2.5 lakh, while the rest would be borne by the State Government.

The clock tower houses five bells. While the main bell is at the centre, the rest are in the periphery. The hammer which strikes the main bell weighs 20 kgs and the smaller hammers which strike the four other bells weigh 10 kg each. The minute hand is 8 feet long while the hour hand is 6 feet long.

It was constructed by Nawab Nasir-ud-Din in five years beginning 1882 to mark the arrival of Sir George Cooper Brat, the first Lieutenant-Governor of United Provinces of Oudh and North-West.

James William Benson, the then clock maker of the Queen of England, was given the contract to construct the clock tower at a cost of Rs. 1.75 lakh. Major Norman M.T. Horsford of the Bengal Staff Corps was asked to supervise the project. -- UNI

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India's `Big Ben' set to chime again