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Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of London’s Palace of Westminster, but most people extend this to the clock tower too!

153 years old, Big Ben is the largest four faced chiming clock in the world, and the third tallest free standing clock tower. It is an icon, of London and the UK.

Big Ben was designed by the lawyer and amateur horologist Edmund Beckett Denison and George Airy, the Astronomer Royal and it was constructed by Edward John Dent, and following his death in 1853, his stepson Frederick Dent.

The clock and dials were designed by Augustus Pugin, they are set in an iron frame, and 312 pieces of opal glass. The surround is gilded, and inscribed with: “DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM,” which translates to: “Oh Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First.”

Important not only to Londoners, Big Ben has been featured in many films and TV programmes and at the opening of many news bulletins.

Do you agree that Big Ben is the UK’s most iconic landmark?

Image Credit: Graziano

Dame Barbara Hepworth (10 January 1903 – 20 May 1975) was an English modernist sculptor, credited with developing modern art in the UK.

Hailing from Wakefield, Hepworth learned her craft at the Leeds School of Art, the Royal College of Art – where she met the painters Raymond Coxon and Edna Ginesi and the sculptor Henry Moore – and while studying for a time in Italy.

Hepworth’s works can be seen globally, with the largest collection at the Tate owned ‘Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden’ in St Ives; the house where she lived and worked from 1949 until her death.

Have you got a favourite British piece of art, or a favourite British artist? Let us know and you may see them appear!

Image credit: Herrylawford

Tommy Cooper (19 March 1921 – 15 April 1984) was a hugely popular stand up comedian and magician. The legendary showman was born in Caerphilly, Wales, moving to Exeter at the age of three.

Instantly recognisable by his red fez, Cooper starred in his own shows, and his famous two-line jokes and one liners, known as ‘Cooperisms’, are still some of the best loved jokes in the UK.

On 15 April 1984, Cooper collapsed midway through his act on the show ‘Live From Her Majesty’s.’ It was unsure initially due to the slapstick nature of his routine, whether this was part of his act, however he later died in hospital.

The wonderful Tommy Copper is a hero to many and a comedian’s comedian and he’ll always be remembered- just like that!

Which Tommy Cooper jokes are your favourite? Let us know below.

Image credit: Peter Denton

Some nations mock British gastronomy and Britain always seems to languish at the bottom of the pile in newspaper polls for the finest cuisine, but for us there is nothing so homely, warming and satisfying as tucking into a classic British meal such as a Shepherd’s pie.

What’s more we Brits have given the world Cornish pasties, Sunday roasts, cottage pies and the full English breakfast. We say France can stick to its haute-cuisine and Italy can have its pizza, we’ll have a good old-fashioned British dish any day of the week.

What’s your favourite British meal? Let us know in the comments below!

Image credit: Stevendepolo

I said to the Gym instructor “Can you teach me to do the splits?” He said, “How flexible are you?” I said, “I can’t make Tuesdays”

The best jokes are the old ones! This great joke is a Tommy Cooper classic and is no doubt responsible for thousands of belly laughs, thanks Tommy!

 

Image credit: richiiebam

The Great Exhibition was opened on this day in London 1851

As Brits we know we have an abundant of riches, but how often do we organise an exhibition to show it off? Not nearly enough. The Great Exhibition of 1851 did exactly this. In its six month run 6 million people – a third of the population of Britain –  visited. Its profits funded The V&A Museum, The Science Museum, and The Natural History Museum. Quite a feat for an exhibition that was instigated in response to the French Industrial Exposition of 1844.

Should we be holding a great exhibition every year? What would you include if it were and would you visit? Let us know in the comments section below!