The Queen’s House Interior at Greenwich
The Great Hall Floor
14 pictures. The house has been refurbished and is free to visit. It can be found adjacent to the National Maritime Museum⇐ in Wonderful Greenwich ⇐. Check the Queen’s House opening times ⇒. Non-commercial photography is allowed now (since early 2016). .
The house, formerly known as Queen Anne’s house, was built between 1616 and 1635 for Queen Anne (of Denmark) wife of James I of England. Unfortunately Queen Anne died in 1619 and the house lay abandoned until work restarted in 1629 for Charles I’s consort, Henrietta Maria.
The Queens House is now full of artwork including works by William Hodges, George Stubbs, Hans Holbein, William Hogarth, Thomas Gainsborough, the Tulip Staircase by Inigo Jones and one of the famous Elizabeth I Armada portraits.
The architect was Inigo Jones and the style is said to have influenced the architecture of the USA White House.
The Architecture
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The Great Hall Ceiling
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The Tulip Spiral Staircase by Inigo Jones at the Queen’s House in Greenwich
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The Artwork
This is just a small sample.
One of the three famous Elizabeth I Armada portraits that still exist. This one cost £1.5 million. There is another at Woburn Abbey and another at the National Portrait Gallery ⇐ (although I did not include the Armada Portrait) .
The Armada Portraits depict the destruction of the Spanish Armada whilst attempting to invade England. The armada was destroyed mostly by the British weather. Like many portraits of Elizabeth there are several symbols included. For instance the pearls indicate purity, the bow indicates virginity and her right hand over the America’s indicate her advancing dominion and colonisation.
Other portraits of Elizabeth I can be found at Hatfield House ⇐ and show an even more advanced use of symbolism.
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The Thames and Greenwich Hospital by Moonlight by Henry Pether
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Sir Walter Raleigh
Sir Walt founded the state of Virginia in the Americas (after Elizabeth I the virgin Queen) and brought potatoes and tobacco to Europe.
This is why the Beatles sang in “I’m so Tired”, in reference to tobacco, ” And curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git”.
He secretly married a Gentlewoman of the Queen’s Privy Chamber (Elizabeth “Bess” Throckmorton) which resulted in he and his wife being imprisoned for several months. Years later, he was executed for refusing to accept James I as Queen Elizabeth’s successor.
A Ships Figurehead
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The Young Queen Victoria
Thanks for your visit and I hope that you found that interesting.
As an added note, the house does have a reputation for being haunted ⇐. To confess, it was probably me having a sick day. To be more serious, I found it a very calm place and caused no concern at all. Even the people, who took the photograph that started the rumour, refused to believe it was ghostly.
Flamsteed House, The Greenwich Meridian and The Harrison Timekeepers
Statue of General Wolfe, the Great Equatorial Telescope, Flamsteed House and the Time Ball at Maritime Greenwich
All about Wonderful Greenwich and its many attractions is here ⇐.
One of the and most significant and greatest endeavours of human history has been the pursuit of navigational method at sea. It required the accurate measurement of astronomical observations and the development of a marine chronometer. The later being particularly difficult.
The Meridian Courtyard
The Meridian Courtyard is just in front of Flamsteed House, with the The Time Ball ⇒ on top. Here you can stand on the worlds east/west divide at 0 degrees longitude. Admission to Royal Observatory, Flamsteed House and the Meridian Courtyard is here ⇒.
However you can stand on the meridian for free where the red meridian line crosses an intersection in the paths in the park on the tourist map here ⇒.
The Meridian Line
There is usually a queue to stand astride the Meridian Line. This where the journey to east or west begins.
Inside Flamsteed House
Initially ones position, to the east or west of a starting point, could only be determined by dead-reckoning. That is, by measuring the distance traveled. At sea that meant measuring ones speed through the water. It was done by throwing a log overboard attached to a rope. The rope had knots at fixed intervals and the number of knots that were drawn out were counted for a fixed period of time using a sand glass. It was contrived so that one Knot was equal to one nautical mile per hour. A term that is still used today.
The dead reckoning method was woefully inadequate for long distances, no use for creating accurate charts and led to many disasters.
A better method required an accurate seagoing timekeeper. Such a timekeeper could be set to keep the time at a meridian. Greenwich was adopted and the time as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Wherever the ship was it would have the time at Greenwich. Therefore if at local noon the GMT timekeeper showed one o’clock the ship must be 1/24 of the way around the world. If the clock showed two o’clock then the ship must be 2/24 around the world etc and with every second that passed a smaller division. A fuller explanation and an extensive history of navigation can be found here ⇐.
After many years of effort John Harrison created the first maritime chronometer that would keep accurate time even on board a rolling ship.
Harrison Timekeeper H1
The project began with H1 which was not accurate enough.
Harrison Timekeeper H2
Neither was H2.
Harrison Timekeeper H3
Neither was H3.
Harrison Timekeeper H4
In 1759, after near 30 years of effort, Harrison created H4. This device had the advantage of advances in metallurgy, temperature compensation and the important realisation that a smaller/faster movement would be less effected by a ships movement.
There are more Antique Timepieces at the London Science Museum⇐.
And then:-
Marine Chronometer
Mechanical Marine Chronometers can be as accurate as 5 secs gain or loss in fifteen days.
Electric Clock
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Early Quartz Clock
The first quartz clock was created in 1927 and worked by counting the electrically induced vibration of a piece of quartz. By 1969 a miniature version could be worn on ones wrist. Quartz chronometers can be as accurate as 0.7 seconds gain of or loss in 15 days.
Atomic Clock
A cesium (atomic) clock operates by exposing cesium atoms to microwaves until they vibrate at one of their resonant frequencies. They are accurate to within one second in 1,400,000 years.
The next generation of atomic clocks will keep time to one second in 15 billion years. At last the perfect boiled egg.
Back to some of the artifacts in Flamsteed House.
Freedom casket (contains the Freedom of London Scroll) presented to Sir George Biddell Airy (1801-92) Astronomer Royal, by the City of London in 1875
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A Wooden Telescope
If you would like to know more about the development of navigation and its importance to our evolution it is here ⇐.
And, thank you for visiting Freed From Time (which isn’t as much of an anomaly as it sounds, probably 🙂 ).
Characters at the Greenwich Tall Ships Festival
Characters (18 pics)
I’m a star. – Those on the other end of the lead were watching the river and had no idea what their dog was doing. She was drawing a little crowd of her own. The words “what a character” were often heard. She wins my first prize for “Character of the Festival”.
A close second comes :-
Please click on an image to expand and view a slideshow:-
The Crews
Please click on an image to expand and view slide show:-
And, then click on
And, thank you for your visit.
Bench Presses
Books about Town
By popular demand.
The National Literary Trust together with Wild in Art, created the Books About Town project. As result 50 ornate benches were placed around London in early July 2014. Each bench is dedicated to a particular book. The benches will be removed from 15 September 2014 in preparation for auction in October. The auction will raise money for the trust. What a great idea. Just below are a few I managed to photograph in Greenwich and here are all the Books About Town ⇒ and here is More About Greenwich ⇐.
On the Origin of Species – Charles Darwin
The Railway Children – E. Nesbit
The Canterbury Tales – Geoffrey Chaucer
Frozen in Time – Captain Scott
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – Michael Rosen
Flowers at Upper Greenwich Gardens
I’m always amazed at the extraordinary detail that can be seen in flora when using more than the human eye. Enjoy 🙂 More of Wonderful Greenwich.
Upper Greenwich Garden Views
11 pics ~ Upper Greenwich Park is a great place to spend a morning and have a picnic. Then wander on to the observatory and from there down the hill for a range of attractions, mostly free. For more information please click on Visiting Wonderful Greenwich.
Now you see me, now you don’t. (a little slideshow)
I’ll jump. Idiot
There is also a deer enclosure but, on the day, they were hiding. ❗
Wonderful Greenwich and its History
A Great Day Out 
Visiting Maritime Greenwich makes a whole day out and can be for little or no cost (take a picnic) and is one of the best places to photograph in London. It includes the Upper Park Gardens, Deer Enclosure, Royal Naval College, National Maritime Museum, the Queens House, Royal Observatory, Exhibitions, Planetarium, Arts and Crafts Market, Cinema, Comedy Club and a broad range of Restaurants, Cafes and Taverns. The best place to start is at the Upper Gardens and then down the hill.
Greenwich is also a World Heritage site with a wealth of architecture and art of historical interest. At the end of this post is more entertainment information.
Many of the attractions are free and can be photographed and one can stand upon the worlds Prime Meridian at 0 degrees Longitude (see the Tourist Information Map ⇓).
Travel to Greenwich includes maps, best parking, public transport and ways to avoid climbing the hill and you can save the Tourist Information Map as a PDF. The History of Navigation and Greenwich is a more extensive exploration of navigation through the ages,
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The Upper Gardens
Click on Views Flowers Squirrels
and. although you cannot photograph in there:-
The Rangers House
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In the Town – Maritime Greenwich
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The First Shop in the World
Nauticalia is full of seafaring items. It’s at 25 Nelson Rd, that is South past the market and turn left.
It might sound like an excessive boast. Then again it does stand at Longitude 00′ 00′ .4′ West.
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The Cutty Sark
Turn left out of the DLR station, along the short mall and then turn left again.
This great Tea Clipper has been recently restored after a fire during a previous attempt at restoration.
The interior is open to view although it is expensive with many other venues free. Admission.
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The Royal Naval College
Painted Hall
Designed by Christopher Wren, (currently closed until 2019) admission was free, you could take non-commercial photographs and was definitely worth a visit. More Information and Photographs of the Painted Hall.
It is accessible via the Cutty Sark gate or the West Gate. The visitor center is the best option as a first port of call. Please see the Sitemap.
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Chapel
Chapel Photographs Admission is free, you can take non-commercial photographs and is worth visiting.
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The National Maritime Museum
Admission is also free here, you can take non-commercial photographs and is worth visiting. The Museum.
More Photographs from inside the Museum. However, please bear in mind that the exhibits do change over time.
Behind these buildings, there is the hill which leads to the Royal Observatory and the Planetarium.
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The Queens House
Formally known as Queen Annes House, it is in fact associated with two Queens. Admission is free. The interior architecture and art works mean that it is certainly worth a visit. Non-commercial photography has been allowed since the refurbishment in early 2016.
The Queens House ⇐ History of the Queens House ⇒
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The Fan Museum
There is a small charge but you can take non-commercial photographs.
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Greenwich Market
The market offers numerous arts and crafts at reasonable prices. Images from inside the market.
How to find it.
This view is from the South with the park at my back. Using the sitemap, exits from the Naval College, are from the Romney Gate which faces the park or the the West Gate (turn right towards the park).
When facing the other way there is Greenwich Park, with the Queens House, the National Maritime Museum,the Royal Observatory and Planetarium up the hill.
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Greenwich Park
The Royal Observatory and Planetarium
The Royal Observatory (see charges) houses the Astronomy Center Gallery (free), the Harrison Timekeepers, the UK’s Largest Refracting Telescope, Flamsteed House and the Meridian Courtyard. The Planetarium, is nearby.
Flamsteed House, Meridian Courtyard, the Harrison Timekeepers and navigation is here ⇐.
View the Tourist Information Map (updated and you can save as a PDF) and discover that there a number of places where one can stand on the Prime Meridian for free and without queuing.
The red ball at the top is used to mark time (either noon or 1 pm) when it dropped so that ships could set their chronometers. It was used instead of a noon day gun because sound takes time to travel. The Time Ball.
The climb is about 140 feet. That’s about the height of a 15 story building. The easiest gradient is by the road to the right. The diagonal route, under the trees has a place to sit about half way up.
The climb can be avoided by traveling around to the plateau beyond, and do the tour in reverse. Please see Travel to Greenwich.
And, you must think I’m daft, if you think I’m going to walk up there.
Turns out you’re right.
Straight on past the observatory is a more landscaped park (see the row of three pics at start) that leads to diagonal roadside parking and the number 53 bus stop.
The West Park
Turning right after the observatory and crossing the road (The Ave ~ Avenue) leads to an untended part of the park.
There one could see a statue by Henry More entitled Knife Edge. It was on loan to the park and may be gone by midsummer 2014. Here are two views of the same statue.
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Further on, can be seen a view of Our Lady and Star of the Sea.
There is also another view over London.
The Ave
The Ave ~ Avenue divides the main park and the West side and is closed to all traffic after dusk. With the trees acting as a buffer to sound and light, it is very much like being in the countryside.
It is used by cyclists and the occasional skate boarder, so it wise to stay on the pavement/sidewalk.
The Ave ~ Avenue continues as King William Walk and at the bottom the welcoming sight of a Tavern.
Greenwich Nightlife
Greenwich also has the Up the Creek Comedy Club on Creek St, a Theater and Picture House
There are numerous Taverns, Pubs, Cafes and Restaurants. Using Google Maps enter any one of those four descriptions.
You can also specify Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese,Thai, Italian, Spanish and French. And, there is a traditional Pie and Mash shop.
The nightlife is generally thriving but gentle. A good place to unwind.
Food and Drink
Like many tourist venues food and drink can be both pricey and pretentious, especially at the park owned venues. Best option is to picnic in the park. On rainy days there is plenty of shelter/benches on the walkway between the Museum and Queens House.
Alternatively, recommended are “The Yacht” and the “Plume of Feathers”. Both to the east of the Naval College.
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If you get a chance to visit, I hope you enjoy. 🙂
Freed From Time 