Royal Naval Hospital: Difference between revisions
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The Royal Naval Hospital in Greenwich 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- built 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. | |||
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 | 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 neo-classical building in Britain, designed by Inigo Jones) 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 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- | 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''. | ||
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 | |||
Revision as of 15:49, 25 January 2010
The Royal Naval Hospital in Greenwich 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- built 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 neo-classical building in Britain, designed by Inigo Jones) 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 >.