National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

Originally the Greenwich Hospital, which then meant a retirement home for sailors of the Royal Navy, it was built in 1692. It became the school for naval doctors, then in 1934 it was given over to the Maritime Museum in Greenwich due to its location as a ship landing since the Roman times.

The Arrival - Greenwich DLR station

The DLR system is all over South and east London, and runs really well. Being automated, it's not as affected by strikes, which made it ideal for my last visit during a pile of labor actions.

You disembark in the center of Greenwich at the Cutty Sark stop, and this is just a delightful and very eclectic area of shops, dining and inns, plus a serious history on naval and astronomic usages. Walk east through the town to the museum, it's hard to miss and signs abound.



The Museum

When you enter, you find you don't have to pay a cent to visit. Primarily self-guided, but they do have timed tours. There is also an extra fee to see area of special exhibitions, but I was in a bit of a time crunch that day.
Old figureheads of many great wooden ships. No vessel was complete without one in the day Private pleasure yacht of Prince Frederick, son of George II, who died before his father, so his son became George III An aluminum torpedo that broke many speed records at complete risk to life and limb of the pilot
As you go through the other floors, you see the massive center shipping world play area, and surrounding it more displays of naval history (as well, this is what made England the maritime power it is).
Huge play space with ships to traverse the world for the future captains that visit here Many of the spices that made England rich beyond compare. This funded the massive navy and endless wars The HMS Bounty, why it was in the South Pacific. And then the leadup to the mutiny and its aftermath
Almost every great ship or even minor ship had a model made of it. Examples of several types are displayed, many forgotten A ship simulator with a really screwed up wheel so it was terribly hard to use (Rob failed at the test)
The Shackleton Expedition, I think the most amazing story of disaster and survival that has been documented by man The Pacific and many of the cultures encountered (and some subjugated) during the great age of exploration And intensely volumed library of naval charts, stories, education and blueprints that one could be lost in for days
I had heard of barshot from playing naval games for a long time, and now I actually see the crazy deadly item it actually is The rotunda of the Baltic Exchange, where prices and trades were set from merchandise all over the world. The building was blown up by the IRA and they gifted the glasswork here after it was restored
And there is quite a bit to the great battle of Trafalgar where the fate of England truly was held in the balance, and how Lord Horatio Nelson saved the day highly outnumbered.
HMS Victory, and the battle, showing the victory, the death, the despair and the hope. Truly a masterpiece of a painting preserved in a special room How one boarded a ship and fought the Frenchies. No room to retreat here! The uniform Lord Admiral Nelson wore during the battle, and what he was shot in
And as the battle was won, this is what he died in, on his ship below decks. His strategy and leadership had won the day

Summary

Old timey sailing and the age of wooden ships and iron men isn't for everyone, but wow is this one hell of a collection of old items. Also the Cutty Sark (the world famous clipper ship) isn't far from here either. I found it very interesting with the history and the place this holds in the English DNA.
Well of course, it's a museum, and therefore Rob must take a picture of the shop!

Leave a comment

All comments are moderated, so they will be posted after approval