British Culture - User contributions [en]

Royal Naval Hospital

2010-01-22T19:09:01Z

Uniqueen:

'''Royal Naval Hospital (Greenwich)'''

The Greenwich Hospital was founded in 1694 for injured and veteran sailors.
It became the home of some thousand seamen (In 1814 three thousand men lived in the hospital). The Royal Naval Hospital was built on the site of the ''Palace of Placentia'' or ''Greenwich Palace'' (erected in 1427, rebuilt in the classical style by John Webb in 1664). In Tudor times Greenwich Palace is said to have been Henry VIII’ s favourite place and the birthplace of both Elizabeth I and Mary I.
The building of a naval hospital on the site of this old palace was ordered by Queen Mary I. She requested that the so-called King Charles wing of the Palace was to be re- build as a naval hospital on the model of the Chelsea Hospital. The re-building of the palace took place between 1696 and 1712; it was finally completed in 1752.
The architects were ''Sir Christopher Wren'' and his assistant Nicholas Hawksmoor. Wren designed the whole hospital, but retired in 1716 so that the building still needed to be completed. His successor was another leading architect, Sir John Vanbrugh. While Wren’s plan was put into practise, Mary I who was staying at the Queen’s House (adjunct to the palace, erected in 1616, first classical building in Britain) realized that the hospital would be an obstacle to her riverside view. That is the reason why the building was eventually split into two parts. Now, there is a direct way leading from the Thames to Greenwich Hill. The whole palace consists of four main buildings (“courts”), that are: King Charles Court and Queen Anne court (along the riverside), Queen Mary Court and King William Court (behind them to the south). The two most important courts are Queen Mary Court (it contains the famous Chapel) and King William Court (From 1824 to 1936 it hosted the National Gallery of Naval Art in its famous Painted Hall). The ''Painted Hall'' was designed by Sir James Thornhill and is considered to be a masterpiece of decoration. It was to serve as a dining room for the pensioners.
The Greenwich Hospital closed in 1869 because of the declining number of seamen (due to the period of naval peace at the end of the 19th century). Afterwards the building was still used by the Navy. The ''Royal Naval College'' moved to this site in 1873. It was closed in 1998 when the colleges of navy, army and air force were to move together. Nowadays the ''Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College'' is responsible for the building. Since 2002 it has been open for tourists. The entire ensemble of naval buildings in Greenwich, the so-called “Maritime Greenwich” became a World Heritage site in 1997. The hospital buildings have even served as settings for a number of popular films, including “Four weddings and a Funeral”, “the Mummy returns”, and “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”.

Sources:

Greenwich Foundation. Royal hospital for Seamen. 22 Jan. 2010
<http://www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org/royal-hospital-for-seamen,27,AT.html>.

National Maritime Museum. The Royal Hospital for Seamen, Greenwich: 'A Refuge for All'.
22 Jan. 2010<http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.
148/chapterId/3046/The-Royal-Hospital-for-Seamen-Greenwich-A-Refuge-for
All.html>.

Palmer, Alan. The Old Royal Naval College. 2008. 22 Jan. 2010 <http://www.greenwich
guide.org.uk/rnc.htm >.

http://www.london-architecture.info/LO-014.htm

Royal Naval Hospital

2010-01-22T18:47:58Z

Uniqueen: Created page with ''''Royal Naval Hospital (Greenwich)''' The Greenwich Hospital was founded in 1694 for injured and veteran sailors. It became the home of some thousand seamen (In 1814 three thou…'

'''Royal Naval Hospital (Greenwich)'''

The Greenwich Hospital was founded in 1694 for injured and veteran sailors.
It became the home of some thousand seamen (In 1814 three thousand men lived in the hospital). The Royal Naval Hospital was built on the site of the ''Palace of Placentia'' or ''Greenwich Palace'' (erected in 1427, rebuilt in the classical style by John Webb in 1664). In Tudor times Greenwich Palace is said to have been Henry VIII’ s favourite place and the birthplace of both Elizabeth I and Mary I.
The building of a naval hospital on the site of this old palace was ordered by Queen Mary I. She requested that the so-called King Charles wing of the Palace was to be re- build as a naval hospital on the model of the Chelsea Hospital. The re-building of the palace took place between 1696 and 1712; it was finally completed in 1752.
The architects were ''Sir Christopher Wren'' and his assistant Nicholas Hawksmoor. Wren designed the whole hospital, but retired in 1716 so that the building still needed to be completed. His successor was another leading architect, Sir John Vanbrugh. While Wren’s plan was put into practise, Mary I who was staying at the Queen’s House (adjunct to the palace, erected in 1616, first classical building in Britain) realized that the hospital would be an obstacle to her riverside view. That is the reason why the building was eventually split into two parts. Now, there is a direct way leading from the river to Greenwich Hill. The whole palace consists of four main buildings (“courts”), that are: King Charles Court and Queen Anne court (along the riverside), Queen Mary Court and King William Court (behind them to the south). The two most important courts are Queen Mary Court (it contains the famous Chapel) and King William Court (From 1824 to 1936 it hosted the National Gallery of Naval Art in its famous Painted Hall). The ''Painted Hall'' was designed by Sir James Thornhill and is considered to be a masterpiece of decoration. It was to serve as a dining room for the pensioners.
The Greenwich Hospital closed in 1869 because of the declining number of seamen (due to the period of naval peace at the end of the 19th century). Afterwards the building was still used by the Navy. The ''Royal Naval College'' moved to this site in 1873. It was closed in 1998 when the colleges of navy, army and air force were to move together. Nowadays the ''Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College'' is responsible for the building. Since 2002 it has been open for tourists. The entire ensemble of naval buildings in Greenwich, the so-called “Maritime Greenwich” became a World Heritage site in 1997. The hospital buildings have even served as settings for a number of popular films, including “Four weddings and a Funeral”, “the Mummy returns”, and “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”.

Sources:

http://www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org/royal-hospital-for-seamen,27,AT.html

http://www.greenwich-guide.org.uk/rnc.htm

http://www.london-architecture.info/LO-014.htm

Elopement

2009-12-11T18:23:33Z

Uniqueen: Created page with ''''Elopement''' To '''elope''' literally means to '''run away'''. In 18th century England this term was used to refer to a marriage that was conducted by a couple that fled secr…'

'''Elopement'''

To '''elope''' literally means to '''run away'''. In 18th century England this term was used to refer to a marriage that was conducted by a couple that fled secretly to a place, where the English law did not apply. Most often couples crossed the border to the nearest Scottish village, ''Gretna Green''. Among other popular Scottish border villages were Lamberton or Mordington.

Elopement can be seen as a consequence of the Marriage Act, also called ''Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act'' passed in 1753. This act contained very strict rules regarding marriage. Only marriages solemnised in a church and between those aged over 21 were recognized. If they were not 21 the couple needed parental consent. To avoid the law, it was necessary to get either a special license from the Archbishop of Canterbury or to elope to Scotland.

In Scotland marriage was legal at the age of 16. All the Scottish law required was that there were two witnesses to the marriage. Usually the marriage was performed by the local blacksmith. That is why blacksmiths in Gretna Green were sometimes called “anvil priests”, because the anvil served as altar.

In Jane Austen’s novels elopements play a role, too. In her works, Austen shows the negative aspect of elopements. In Pride and Prejudice the elopement by Lydia and Wickham leads to a bad marriage. Elopement was not well respected in society and considered to be an embarrassment for the family. Most often the eloping couple had no dowries or marriage settlements as financial support.

'''
Sources:'''

Balkovek, Corin. “The Marriage Act of 1753”.British Englightment Class Projekt. 2004. 11 Dec.2009.<http://www.humboldt.edu/~jbd2/Eng350/MarriageCD/website/Marriage.htm>.

"elopement." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online.11 Dec. 2009 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elopement>.

Klingel Ray, Joan. Jane Austen for Dummies. Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2006.

Thomas Paine

2009-11-05T17:40:50Z

Uniqueen:

'''Thomas Paine''' (1737-1809),

journalist, author, political pamphleteer, revolutionary and one of the founding fathers of the United States.

His main works comprise ''Common Sense'' (1776), the ''Crisis'' papers (1776-1783), ''Rights of Man'' (1792) and ''The Age of Reason'' (1794-96). His writings inspired people, but also brought much criticism.

Thomas Paine was born on January 29, 1737 in Norfolk, England as son of a poor Quaker family. At the age of 12 he left school, having acquired basic knowledge in reading, writing and arithmetic. First, he began apprenticing for his father, a corset maker; later he took over the profession of a tax officer. Paine, not satisfied with the low payment, argued for a pay rise for officers. As a consequence he was dismissed. He tried out several other occupations but was very unsuccessful. At this unhappy point in life, Paine made the acquaintance with Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) in London, who encouraged him to become a journalist and suggested him to emigrate to the American colonies.

In 1774, Paine arrived in Philadelphia, having barely survived the journey. He soon followed Franklin’s advice and became editor of the Pennsylvania Magazine. Two years later he anonymously published ''Common Sense'' which became at a time, when the question of independence was still not decided an immediate success. Paine challenged the British government and monarchy. It was the first time someone openly asked for American independence. He used clear, plain language that the common people, the average man could easily understand.

After the War of Independence, in which Paine published the famous, patriotic Crisis papers to inspire the army, he returned back to Great Britain. Being persecuted by the British, Paine fled to France. In 1791 he published ''Rights of Man'', an answer to Edmund Burke’s ''Reflections on the Revolution in France''. Paine’s work clearly defended the French Revolution and republicanism and criticized monarchy.

In France he became a member of the National Convention. Under Robespierre Paine was imprisoned because of his loyality to King Louis XIV, but freed in 1794. Between 1794 and 1796, Paine wrote ''The Age of Reason'', which criticizes organized or institutionalised religion.

In 1802, Paine finally sailed back to America (where he was derided by the public) and died in New York City in 1809.

'''Sources'''

Maurer, Michael. ''Kleine Geschichte Englands''. Bonn: Bpb, 2007.

"Thomas Paine." Encyclopedia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 05 Nov. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/438489/Thomas-Paine>.

"Thomas Paine." Verfassungsgeschichte der Neuzeit Online. 12 Oct. 2009.Prof. Dr. Andreas Kley. 05 Nov.2009 <http://www.rwi.uzh.ch/elt-1st-kley/verfg/fr/de/html/paine_learningObject1.html>.

Thomas Paine

2009-11-05T17:38:19Z

Uniqueen: Created page with ''''Thomas Paine''' (1737-1809), journalist, author, political pamphleteer, revolutionary and one of the founding fathers of the United States. His main works comprise ''Common…'

'''Thomas Paine''' (1737-1809),

journalist, author, political pamphleteer, revolutionary and one of the founding fathers of the United States.

His main works comprise ''Common Sense'' (1776), the ''Crisis'' papers (1776-1783), ''Rights of Man'' (1792) and ''The Age of Reason'' (1794-96). His writings inspired people, but also brought much criticism.

Thomas Paine was born on January 29, 1737 in Norfolk, England as son of a poor Quaker family. At the age of 12 he left school, having acquired basic knowledge in reading, writing and arithmetic. First, he began apprenticing for his father, a corset maker; later he took over the profession of a tax officer. Paine, not satisfied with the low payment, argued for a pay rise for officers. As a consequence he was dismissed. He tried out several other occupations but was very unsuccessful. At this unhappy point in life, Paine made the acquaintance with Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) in London, who encouraged him to become a journalist and suggested him to emigrate to the American colonies.

In 1774, Paine arrived in Philadelphia, having barely survived the journey. He soon followed Franklin’s advice and became editor of the Pennsylvania Magazine. Two years later he anonymously published ''Common Sense'' which became at a time, when the question of independence was still not decided an immediate success. Paine challenged the British government and monarchy. It was the first time someone openly asked for American independence. He used clear, plain language that the common people, the average man could easily understand.

After the War of Independence, in which Paine published the famous, patriotic Crisis papers to inspire the army, he returned back to Great Britain. Being persecuted by the British, Paine fled to France. In 1791 he published ''Rights of Man'', an answer to Edmund Burke’s ''Reflections on the Revolution in France''. Paine’s work clearly defended the French Revolution and republicanism and criticized monarchy.

In France he became a member of the National Convention. Under Robespierre Paine was imprisoned because of his loyality to King Louis XIV, but freed in 1794. Between 1794 and 1796, Paine wrote ''The Age of Reason'', which criticizes organized or institutionalised religion.

In 1802, Paine finally sailed back to America (where he was derided by the public) and died in New York City in 1809.

Sources:

Maurer, Michael. ''Kleine Geschichte Englands''. Bpb: London, 2007.

"Thomas Paine." Encyclopedia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 05 Nov. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/438489/Thomas-Paine>.

"Thomas Paine." Verfassungsgeschichte der Neuzeit Online. 12 Oct. 2009.Prof. Dr. Andreas Kley. 05 Nov.2009 <http://www.rwi.uzh.ch/elt-1st-kley/verfg/fr/de/html/paine_learningObject1.html>.