Greenwich
Greenwich is one of the three Royal Boroughs in London, and is an area with lots of history and magnificent buildings, many of which are right along the Thames. In addition to the Old Royal Naval College, there are other famous sites in the area such as the Greenwich Park where the Royal Observatory is located. Closer to the Thames, you’ll find the Queen’s House, National Maritime Museum, and the Cutty Sark tea clipper. The Old Royal Naval College is right next to the Thames, and you can see Canary Wharf on the far side of the river.
Old Royal Naval College
Old Royal Naval College is a UNESCO World Heritage site with 600 years of history. Over the centuries, the site has had many uses, from the Greenwich Palace (1498-1694) to the Royal Hospital for Seamen (1694-1869) and later on the Royal Naval College (1873-1997). The current building was designed by Sir Christopher Wrenn and completed in 1694.
Painted Hall
The Painted Hall is a hall inside the Old Royal Naval College and it’s known for the paintings on the ceiling and the walls, created by Sir James Thornhill. The paintings took 19 years to complete, from 1707 to 1726. Helios in the Painted Hall exhibition adds a 7-metre artwork in the hall’s centre. The artwork depicts the Sun and its impact on human history and culture. The artwork is built on a 1:200 million scale, and you can also find a model of the Earth on the same scale from within the hall. The sun’s surface is composed of photographs of the sun, and the surface changes with solar activity. The exhibition also has a surround sound composition by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson, further enhancing the atmosphere.
Below you’ll find some images we took.
