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clarsct · 11th July 2005, 10:26 PM

I'm not sure where to post this, so move away if I've been mistaken, oh Mods.

Anyway, I heard this the other day and it kicked on my urban legend filter. A friend told me that the explosions could have damaged the supports for Big Ben, and had they been timed better, would have taken the old Clock down, tower and all.

Now, I'm in the Midwestern USA, where knowledge of London geography is limited, if it even exists in most cases. So this is a cozy, hard-to-confirm rumor to spread. So, any Londoners out there who can poke a few holes?

Kiless · 11th July 2005, 10:42 PM

Good question- nothing on Google news.... did find this though:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/1167708.cms -

LONDON: Police on Monday closed several streets in central London where most government offices and many famous landmarks are located, including Parliament, Big Ben and 10 Downing Street, where prime minister Tony Blair lives and works, an official said.

Four days after terrorist bombs killed 49 people on three subway trains and a bus in central London, two Red Police vans blocked both ends of Whitehall, a wide street that runs from Trafalgar Square to the House of Commons, and includes the headquarters of the major government departments such as the foreign office.

Map: http://www.map-of-london.co.uk/bigben.html

I say myth... Will keep looking at the news, though.

gtc · 11th July 2005, 11:35 PM

I think the attacks were too far away.

Map of Attacks

Map of London

Drooper · 11th July 2005, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by clarsct
I'm not sure where to post this, so move away if I've been mistaken, oh Mods.

Anyway, I heard this the other day and it kicked on my urban legend filter. A friend told me that the explosions could have damaged the supports for Big Ben, and had they been timed better, would have taken the old Clock down, tower and all.

Now, I'm in the Midwestern USA, where knowledge of London geography is limited, if it even exists in most cases. So this is a cozy, hard-to-confirm rumor to spread. So, any Londoners out there who can poke a few holes?

The bombs were miles away from the Palace of Westminster.

clarsct · 11th July 2005, 11:57 PM

*nod* Thanks a heap. Sounded like BS, and indeed I see that it was. Now I can compassionately confront my friend.

Thanks again, all. I knew I could count on you. (Not to mention if anyone else says such things, we can point them here.)

MRC_Hans · 12th July 2005, 12:44 AM

Those were 4 to 5kg bombs. Now, if four of those were placed and detonated correctly directly IN the tower, they might be able to bring it down, or at least damage it seriously.

The Germans rained bombs of 200kg or more over London during WW2. The Big Ben still stands.

Hans

brodski · 12th July 2005, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by clarsct
I'm not sure where to post this, so move away if I've been mistaken, oh Mods.

Anyway, I heard this the other day and it kicked on my urban legend filter. A friend told me that the explosions could have damaged the supports for Big Ben, and had they been timed better, would have taken the old Clock down, tower and all.

Now, I'm in the Midwestern USA, where knowledge of London geography is limited, if it even exists in most cases. So this is a cozy, hard-to-confirm rumor to spread. So, any Londoners out there who can poke a few holes?

The palace of Westminster is quite a way from any of the bombsites, security around Westminster and Whitehall (the main government districts, which contain Downing Street and most of the major ministries ) is a lot tighter than in the rest of central London (Even the "City of London" district), the bomb blasts posed no threat to Big Ben (Which is a bell) or St Stevens Tower (which contains Big Ben).

Furthermore, as St Stevens Tower is an integral part of the palace of Westminster (containing both the House of Commons, and the House of Lords), any blast strong enough to damages the structural supports would have caused both sever cosmetic damage, and some structural damage to the whole of our parliament building. I think that this would have warranted bigger headlines by now, and some pretty dramatic pictures.

richardm · 12th July 2005, 02:18 AM

Even if the blasts were in parts of the Underground close to to Westminster, the whole building was heavily underpinned as a precaution against underground collapse of the new Jubilee line extension. It would take a really huge blast to do any damage from underground, and we'd have noticed it if it was on the surface.

Mid · 12th July 2005, 04:01 AM

The House of Commons was hit by a bomb in world war 2 and Big Ben is still standing.

This does make me wonder where your friends idea came from though, did they come up with it themselves or were they told by a friend and so on?

Meadmaker · 12th July 2005, 03:43 PM

My guess is the rumour could start when someone saw a story noting that the streets around Big Ben were locked off, and reached the incorrect conclusioin that it was due to possible damage, when in fact it was due to the fact that Big Ben itself and the government buildings around it were considered likely targets, in much the same way that we closed off the Statue of Liberty following the World Trade Center attacks.

11th July 2005, 10:26 PM	#1
clarsct Humor Impaired Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Cultural Desert Posts: 4,910	Big Ben and the London Explosions I'm not sure where to post this, so move away if I've been mistaken, oh Mods. Anyway, I heard this the other day and it kicked on my urban legend filter. A friend told me that the explosions could have damaged the supports for Big Ben, and had they been timed better, would have taken the old Clock down, tower and all. Now, I'm in the Midwestern USA, where knowledge of London geography is limited, if it even exists in most cases. So this is a cozy, hard-to-confirm rumor to spread. So, any Londoners out there who can poke a few holes?
	__________________ When Religion becomes State, and breaking the Law becomes Sin, then Dissenters will become Heretics. Oh nonsense. Still not hugging you. -Kiless Forum Tosser and Skirt Chaser

11th July 2005, 10:42 PM	#2
Kiless Guest Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6,103	Good question- nothing on Google news.... did find this though: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/1167708.cms - LONDON: Police on Monday closed several streets in central London where most government offices and many famous landmarks are located, including Parliament, Big Ben and 10 Downing Street, where prime minister Tony Blair lives and works, an official said. Four days after terrorist bombs killed 49 people on three subway trains and a bus in central London, two Red Police vans blocked both ends of Whitehall, a wide street that runs from Trafalgar Square to the House of Commons, and includes the headquarters of the major government departments such as the foreign office. Map: http://www.map-of-london.co.uk/bigben.html I say myth... Will keep looking at the news, though.
Kiless Guest Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6,103

11th July 2005, 11:39 PM	#4
Drooper Guest Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,983	Re: Big Ben and the London Explosions Quote: Originally posted by clarsct I'm not sure where to post this, so move away if I've been mistaken, oh Mods. Anyway, I heard this the other day and it kicked on my urban legend filter. A friend told me that the explosions could have damaged the supports for Big Ben, and had they been timed better, would have taken the old Clock down, tower and all. Now, I'm in the Midwestern USA, where knowledge of London geography is limited, if it even exists in most cases. So this is a cozy, hard-to-confirm rumor to spread. So, any Londoners out there who can poke a few holes? The bombs were miles away from the Palace of Westminster.
Drooper Guest Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,983

11th July 2005, 11:57 PM	#5
clarsct Humor Impaired Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Cultural Desert Posts: 4,910	nod Thanks a heap. Sounded like BS, and indeed I see that it was. Now I can compassionately confront my friend. Thanks again, all. I knew I could count on you. (Not to mention if anyone else says such things, we can point them here.)
	__________________ When Religion becomes State, and breaking the Law becomes Sin, then Dissenters will become Heretics. Oh nonsense. Still not hugging you. -Kiless Forum Tosser and Skirt Chaser

12th July 2005, 12:44 AM	#6
MRC_Hans Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whithin earshot of the North Sea Posts: 16,604	Those were 4 to 5kg bombs. Now, if four of those were placed and detonated correctly directly IN the tower, they might be able to bring it down, or at least damage it seriously. The Germans rained bombs of 200kg or more over London during WW2. The Big Ben still stands. Hans
	__________________ Don't. Just don't.

11th July 2005, 11:35 PM	#3
gtc Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: the downunderverse Posts: 7,114	I think the attacks were too far away. Map of Attacks Map of London

12th July 2005, 02:09 AM	#7
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,159	Re: Big Ben and the London Explosions Quote: Originally posted by clarsct I'm not sure where to post this, so move away if I've been mistaken, oh Mods. Anyway, I heard this the other day and it kicked on my urban legend filter. A friend told me that the explosions could have damaged the supports for Big Ben, and had they been timed better, would have taken the old Clock down, tower and all. Now, I'm in the Midwestern USA, where knowledge of London geography is limited, if it even exists in most cases. So this is a cozy, hard-to-confirm rumor to spread. So, any Londoners out there who can poke a few holes? The palace of Westminster is quite a way from any of the bombsites, security around Westminster and Whitehall (the main government districts, which contain Downing Street and most of the major ministries ) is a lot tighter than in the rest of central London (Even the "City of London" district), the bomb blasts posed no threat to Big Ben (Which is a bell) or St Stevens Tower (which contains Big Ben). Furthermore, as St Stevens Tower is an integral part of the palace of Westminster (containing both the House of Commons, and the House of Lords), any blast strong enough to damages the structural supports would have caused both sever cosmetic damage, and some structural damage to the whole of our parliament building. I think that this would have warranted bigger headlines by now, and some pretty dramatic pictures.
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,159

12th July 2005, 02:18 AM	#8
richardm Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 9,270	Even if the blasts were in parts of the Underground close to to Westminster, the whole building was heavily underpinned as a precaution against underground collapse of the new Jubilee line extension. It would take a really huge blast to do any damage from underground, and we'd have noticed it if it was on the surface.
richardm Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 9,270	__________________ Rimmer: Look at her! Magnificent woman! Very prim, very proper, almost austere. Some people took her for cold, thought she was aloof. Not a bit of it. She just despised fools. Quite tragic, really, because otherwise I think we'd have got on famously.

12th July 2005, 04:01 AM	#9
Mid Muse Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 805	The House of Commons was hit by a bomb in world war 2 and Big Ben is still standing. This does make me wonder where your friends idea came from though, did they come up with it themselves or were they told by a friend and so on?
Mid Muse Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 805

12th July 2005, 03:43 PM	#10
Meadmaker Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Detroit suburbs Posts: 11,466	My guess is the rumour could start when someone saw a story noting that the streets around Big Ben were locked off, and reached the incorrect conclusioin that it was due to possible damage, when in fact it was due to the fact that Big Ben itself and the government buildings around it were considered likely targets, in much the same way that we closed off the Statue of Liberty following the World Trade Center attacks.
	__________________ Dave "War is Peace. Freedom is slavery. Particles are waves."