2. Did YOU know??
Greenwich became a Royal Borough on 3 February
2012, one of the first events in the year Queen Elizabeth II
celebrates her Diamond Jubilee. Greenwich will also be a
host borough for the London 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games this year!!!
3.
4. Henry V created the Greenwich royal
manor in the 15th century, which was
later granted to his half-brother Duke
Humphrey of Gloucester. In around
1433 Humphrey enclosed what is now
Greenwich Park, the oldest of all the
Royal Parks, and built a new riverside
house. This was developed by his
successors, Henry VI and Henry VII, and
renamed the Palace of Placentia or
‘pleasant place’.
5. Henry VIII was born at Placentia
in 1491. A compulsive builder
and keen horseman, he made
further alterations to the site
including a new chapel, stables
and a tiltyard with towers and a
viewing gallery. He also stocked Greenwich Park
with deer in 1515 and their
descendants are still there. Henry
VIII married Catherine of Aragon
and Anne of Cleves at Greenwich
Palace and his
daughters, Elizabeth and
Mary, were born there. Each
went on to rule England as Mary I
and Elizabeth I.
6. Greenwich park
This is London's oldest enclosed
Royal Park, Greenwich Park is
situated on a hilltop with
impressive views of Greenwich and
across the River Thames to Canary
Wharf, The O2, the City of London
and beyond. A small herd of Fallow
deer live in the wilderness near
Blackheath gate and there are
beautiful rose, flower and herb
gardens and a large children's
playground. The Park is also home
to the Royal Observatory and the
Meridian line. Parts of the Park will
be closed during 2012 when it
becomes one of the venues for the
London 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games.
7. St Alfege Church
This church has stood here since 1012 on the
traditional site of the martyrdom of St
Alfege, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered
by marauding Vikings. This church, the third to be
built here, was designed by Nicholas
Hawksmoor, who trained under Sir Christopher
Wren, working with him on the Old Royal Naval
College. It was dedicated in 1718.
8.
9. The Cutty Sark was launched in Scotland in
1869 and sailed initially on the tea route to
China. Later she brought back wool from
Australia. She has been in dry dock in
Greenwich since 1954. She is currently closed
to the public for conservation work and due to
re-open in time for the London
2012 Olympic and Paralympic
Games.
Cutty Sark
10. Old Royal Naval College
Built on the site of the Tudor palace where
Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were born, this is one
of the country's finest examples of Baroque
landscape. It was designed by some of the
greatest architects of the day including Wren,
Hawksmoor and Vanbrugh. The beautiful
Chapel and the magnificent Painted Hall,
where Nelson's body lay in state after his
death at the Battle of Trafalgar, are open daily.
11. National Maritime
Museum
Britain's seafaring heritage is dramatically recreated
here in display rooms filled with oceangoing treasures at
one of the world's leading maritime museums.
The stories of naval battles, of famous mariners,
adventurers and explorers and the life and heroic death
of Admiral Lord Nelson are vividly brought to life in
outstanding galleries and interactive displays.
