Greenwich

Old Royal Naval College

Greenwich, SE10

The Old Royal Naval College stands on a site originally occupied by a Tudor palace called Placentia, which was the favourite residence of Henry King VIII and Queen Elizabeth I but it fell into disrepair. Both Henry VIII and Elizabeth 1st were actually born here in the Palace sited on the banks of the Thames. 

The Old Royal Naval College was designed by Sir Christopher Wren as a Royal Hospital for Seamen following Queen Mary II's wish that the King's House at Greenwich be converted to a hospital for wounded sailors (much like Les Invalides in Paris). One of the former Governers of the Hospital was Captain James Cook, the famous explorer. 

The costs of maintaining retired sailors here grew and grew, and eventually it became uneconomic to run, so in 1873 it was decided to utilise the buildings as a Naval College for the training of new Officers, much like Dartmouth. The College remained as such until 1997 when the decision was taken by the Ministry of Defence to close it.  The buildings needed a new use. Responsibility for the Old Royal Naval College passed to a charitable foundation, the Greenwich Trust.

Most of the former Old Naval College buildings are now shared between The University of Greenwich and Trinity Music College.

The Twin Towers of the Old Royal Naval College
photo courtesy Stephen Worsfold

A new Visitors' Centre has recently been opened, where you can pick up trail maps and can also see the glorious Chapel and Painted Hall.  It is normally open to the public every day between 10.00hrs and 17.00hrs.  Admission is free. You will see the Painted Hall and the Chapel.

The Painted Hall is one of the finest banqueting halls in Europe.  The famous painted ceilings and walls took Sir James Thornhill the artist 19 years to complete - he was the man who was also responsible for the painted Dome in St. Paul's Cathedral.  The body of Nelson lay in state here before his funeral upriver in St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Chapel was originally designed by Sir Christopher Wren for a congregaiton of sailors now secure from the perils of the sea.  It is a classical masterpiece, and contains a superb organ built by Samuel Green.  It has magnificent acoustics and is often the setting for concerts and recitals.  It has also been used as a film set - for "Four Weddings and a Funeral".

The Old Royal Naval College is quite simply unmissable.  It is designated a World heritage Site and is the best grouping of classical buildings on the banks of the Thames.  Don't miss it!

 Jeannette Briggs

Nearest Tube Station:  Cutty Sark Docklands Light Railway.

N.B. Occasionally the Painted Hall and the Chapel are closed for special events and prior notice is preferred for disabled visitors.

The following news item is reproduced for the interest of visitors.

"Greenwich - The old Palace of Placentia rediscovered..."

"It's amazing how easily archeologists get worked up about holes in the ground......! A team from the Museum of London have been busily working scraping away layers of earth to reveal what remains of the lost Royal Chapel of the Palace of Placentia at Greenwich. They have also discovered the river frontage of the old palace - which is located 50 metres back from the present frontage. All this because the new Greenwich University needed a new car park!

To put things in a historical perspective, the Tudor monarchs loved their Palace at Greenwich. It was oirginally built by King Henry VII, the grandfather of Elizabeth 1st. Henry VII actually married Elizabeth of York in the Chapel - as did Henry VIII, who married two of his six wives here. One of these was Catharine of Aragon, who loved Placentia and her daughter (later Queen Mary) was born here. Queen Elizabeth 1st was also born here in the favourite Palace of the Tudor monarchs.

It was during the excavation works for the new car park that the rembnants of the Palace of Placentia were discovered less than 4 feet below the surface. The archealogical team form the Museum of London have found Tudor stonework which forms part of the Chapel, the Vestry and the old river frontage of the palace and the full significance of these finds will take several months to assess. The remains will be preserved as best they can, and the artefacts will be transferred to the Museum of London, before construction work on the car park can continue. In answer to the charge that we are covering up history - then all the Museum can say is that we are simply following in the footsteps of Christopher Wren who built the beautiful buildings of the Naval College that you see today. He tore down Placentia Palace to do so! It had fallen into disrepair and Wren simply helped it on its way before he could construct his masterpiece. " - Report by J Briggs

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