Beach is almost sure that he has run across it before. Londoners allegedly thrown into panic by the fact that Big Ben had struck thirteen!Ī second legend, or better an urban legend even, is associated with Big Ben striking thirteen: this story may even turn up in the folklore motif indexes associated with other clocks and bells. It is tempting to connect these traditions to a Nazi broadcast from Britain’s finest hour, or perhaps finest month: August 1940. It was far from clear at the time that she would inherit the throne. This blogger normally cannot stand omens, but he is a little humbled by the fact that the baby in question was named Elizabeth and would later become one of Britain’s longest ruling monarchs. Many of them declare that they can trace all big events in Royal history to the idiosyncrasies of the giant clock. So that despite the lack of logic in the contention, citizens of Westminster are convinced that great historical events are bound up with the future of the Royal baby. The happy event to the Duke and Duchess occurred a few hours later. Certainly, all the experts who tried to find the cause of Big Ben’s peculiar conduct failed and described the incident as being due to outside interference. The last stoppage was in the midst of a snowstorm.ġ926: When Big Ben fails, without just reason, an event of the utmost importance is about to happen.
Probably as a protest against the weather the great clock struck in an unaccustomed fashion at 9.17, and puzzled passers-by for some time afterwards were anxiously comparing watches and theorising in horology and superstition. It is remembered that the clock certainly struck thirteen midnight within a few days of Queen Victoria’s death.Įarlier the same year, note the reference to superstition.īig Ben failed its numerous admirers on Tuesday night for first time for two years. Two months later, to the very day, his elder brother died.ġ906: There is a superstition that when Big Ben strikes thirteen at midnight a death may be expected in the Royal Family. The event was commented on and, the day being a critical one in the illness of Prince George, his name was, happily incorrectly, associated with the evil omen. At twelve o’clock on night of November 14, the members of a political club within a stone’s throw of the Houses of Parliament were astonished to hear the quarter chimes sounding simultaneously with the hour strikes, and to note that Big Ben struck 13 times. It is as follows: There is, it seems, a superstition that when Big Ben, the clock of Westminster, strikes irregularly at midnight, evil will befall the Royal House within three months. He particularly enjoyed the way that the ‘rules’ changed with every news story.ġ892: A most curious coincidence with regard to the death of the late Duke of Clarence has come under notice. Beach’s curiosity was aroused and sure enough a simple search brought up a few references from between the lines of history. ( Can this be right: drbeachcombing AT yahoo DOT com). It would hardly be surprising then that there are superstitions about Big Ben, but what is surprising is that these seem not to feature in folklore books on London. Big Ben the great bell that rings out from Westminster is a central part of British identity: not least because its chimes have, for many years, sounded on national radio and television programs.
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