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Big Ben has officially celebrated its 150th birthday.

The bell was cast at Whitechapel foundry on April 10 1858 and was first rung in the Great Westminster Clock on May 31 the following year.

A century and a half later, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry is still there and celebrations have been held for the famous bell.

Proposals for the famous landmark were first decided in 1844 - just a year after a fire engulfed the Houses of Parliament.

The requirements were simple the first stroke should register the time correct to within one second and the hour bell should weigh 14 tonnes.

According to the sales ledger the cost of the bell was £572.

It took 20 minutes to fill the bell mould with molten metal and 20 days for the metal to solidify and cool.

Then it was tested to make sure it chimed at the right tone, a practice that is as important as it was 150 years ago.

The name for the bell tower was debated in Parliament with many suggestions being made but the winning title was named after Sir Benjamin Hall.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.