Greenwich - Time to say goodbye

For our last day of our three day break, with two nights already passed, we continued to enjoy the reasonably good weather.  For it didn't pour with rain and it wasn't windy.  

Having seen the entrance to the foot tunnel close by the Cutty Sark on our first day, my anticipation and eagerness to walking right across under the Thames to the north bank, was formed having read the notice on our late night walk along the Thames the previous evening.

I was looking forward to walking under the Thames. Just inside this glass domed entrance we descended the steps.

the lifts were working and apart from the descent when I imagined so many people each day using this to go to work when it was built in the early twentieth century. It was reasonably quiet as far as pedestrians go at that time of the morning, what seemed like leisure cyclists and runners were completely ignoring breaking the no running or cycling rules. On the north bank we walked a little way along the park under the plane trees and enjoyed the views of the Queen's House and all the other buildings.  Had we had longer I would have liked to have walked in amongst all those skyscrapers.

At the Greenwich Hospital were able to join in the First Sunday of the Month tour with guide who told us a little about the history but mainly about the architecture afterwards taking us to the Painted Hall. Because we spent time waiting for the start of the tour, we missed out on reading about the Hospital, but I have been able to find more about it online. From 1705 to 1869 The Hospital accommodated sailors, and The Royal Naval College used the Hospital’s original buildings at Greenwich from 1873 until July 1998. There are so many stories about the people who came into contact with these buildings, which are well worth accessing either before or after a visit.

Landowner in Northumberland.

Greenwich Hospital History

Life as a Greenwich Pensioner

We were guided past the Chapel as there was a service taking place, and walked along past the skittles alley to the Painted Hall.  It quite took my breath away.  The Painted hall had a large art installation in it, but beyond,  in The ceremonial dining room it was possible to stand and admire the decorations by James Thornhill. It took him nineteen years to complete the work.  We had seen some of the work of  James Thornhill when we visited Sherborne House a few weeks earlier.

With all the history, culture and art around these two young visitors still had their phones to hand, but maybe they were one step in advance of myself taking time out to read in situ about the amazing art around them. Here is a link to a guided virtual tour of The Painted Hall which is well worth following.

I learnt that Hero Admiral Lord Nelson's body was lain in state from 5 to 7 January 1806 here over the space of three days when more than 15000 people filed past.

https://www.culturalwednesday.co.uk/painted-hall-greenwich-2/

We decided to have some lunch at the National Maritime Museum, before starting on the tour of the Museum bearing in  mind we had to back at the hotel for 14:30.  We viewed The Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition and had a quick walk through a couple of rooms. I am sure we shall be visiting Greenwich again, and will need to devote at least a whole day to this Museum alone, as we only scratched the surface.

Here are the links to the first two days posts  

Day 1 Greenwich Holiday

Day 2 Greenwich Holiday