Old Royal Naval Hospital

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The Royal Naval Hospital, Greenwich, was commissioned by Queen Mary  (William III and Mary 1689 - 1703) as a retirement home for Royal Navy sailors in gratitude for the navy’s service in the war against France which had followed William’s accession in 1689.  Mary’s support for a home for seamen was partly in response to King Charles’ II start to building a home for retired soldiers in Chelsea.

 

Sir Christopher Wren returned to design the building and work began in June 1696.  Over the next 50 years famous architects such as Sir John Vanburgh, Nicholas Hawksmoor, Campbell, Ripley, and ‘Athenian’ Stuart all contributed to the completion of Wren’s design.

The Royal Naval Hospital was built on the site of the Royal Palace at Greenwich.   First built-up by Duke Humphey, brother of King Henry V, as Bella Court, the palace had been developed by Kings Henry VII and Henry VIII as the Tudor Pleasaunce or Placentia.  Queen Elizabeth I was born at Greenwich and it remained a favourite with her.

 

 King James I commissioned Inigo Jones to build the beautiful Queen’s House for his wife Anne of Denmark.  Anne died before completion and the Queen’s House was only finished in time for Charles’ I wife Henrietta Maria to occupy in 1637, 5 years before the start of the English Civil War.  During the war the Queen’s House was used by Parliamentary forces.

 

 

By the time of the restoration of King Charles II, Greenwich Palace was in ruins.  Charles started reconstruction with the beginning of  the King’s House but as with many of Charles’ projects, shortage of money prevented completion in his lifetime.

 

William & Mary directed completion of the King’s House, now the King Charles Block, as part of the Hospital.   Mary was determined that the view from the Queen’s House to the river should not be obstructed and Wren therefore designed the separated wings framing the Queen’s House.