20 FUN FACTS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT MARITIME
GREENWICH
Everyone knows that Greenwich is the home of time, from where
world time, ‘Greenwich Mean Time’ was first measured,
that the Cutty Sark, the last tea clipper in existence, is now
dry-docked in Greenwich, and that the area has a long and fascinating
maritime history. However delve a little deeper and you will uncover
some interesting and little-known facts about the area:
1. Maritime Greenwich, encompassing the National Maritime Museum,
Greenwich Park and the Old Royal Naval College, was awarded World
Heritage Site status in 1997. Other sites within Britain include
Stonehenge, The Tower of London, Hadrian’s Wall, Blenheim
Palace and the City of Bath. Further afield the Taj Mahal, the
Great Barrier Reef, and the Grand Canyon have all been awarded
World Heritage Site status.
2. Despite the 183 acres of parkland and more open spaces than
any other London borough, Maritime Greenwich is actually in zone
2 on London’s transport map!
3. The stunning Painted Hall with its elaborate ceiling depicting
William III and Queen Mary, took 19 years to complete.
4. The second wedding in Four Weddings & A Funeral was filmed
in the chapel in the Old Royal Naval College.
5. Visitors to Maritime Greenwich can buy a piece of the Cutty
Sark deck dating from 1869 for the princely sum of £1.
6. One of the world’s longest row of toilets is in Greenwich
Park on the day of the London Marathon!
7. The
recently closed Greenwich (NHS) Hospital is now regularly used as
a filming location – recent shoots include About A Boy, starring
Hugh Grant and Dirty Pretty Things, starring Audrey Tatou.
8. Scenes from the Hollywood blockbuster film, The Mummy Returns,
starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weis and John Hannah, were filmed
at the Old Royal Naval College.
9. The
design of the US White House uses the same style of architecture
as that of the Queen's House in Greenwich - it is based on the Palladian
style derived from the buildings by Palladio in Renaissance Italy.
The Queen's House exhibits a selection of the National Maritime
Museum's vast art collection.
10. Shakespeare performed two comedies in front of Elizabeth I
at Greenwich Palace, and it is believed that he rehearsed his plays
in Greenwich.
11. Maritime
Greenwich is reputed to be where Sir Walter Raleigh famously laid
down his coat so that Elizabeth I would not get her feet wet. A
bronze statue of Raleigh, previously located in Whitehall, can now
be seen in Monument Gardens, in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval
College.
12. King
Henry VIII, and his daughters Elizabeth and Mary, were all born
at the Palace of Placentia that once stood on the site of the Old
Royal Naval College.
13. Greenwich Park, London’s oldest royal park and still
home to deer, is a former king’s hunting ground.
14. Scenes from Tomb Raider, starring Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft
were filmed in the Painted Hall in the Old Royal Naval College.
15. Greenwich
is home to the world's only fan museum, housing a collection of
more than 4000 fans displayed in changing exhibitions from all over
the world dating from the 11th century.
16. The Old Royal Naval College, National Maritime Museum and
the Queen’s House, all have wedding licenses offering couples
a wedding fit for a king.
17. As well as its royal connections, Greenwich is home to modern
day celebrities including Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Glenda Jackson
and Jools Holland.
18. Greenwich
has one of the most vibrant markets in the country, offering arts
and crafts and antiques and collectables from Thursday to Sunday,
plus a popular food market at weekends.
19. In days gone by, girls used to roll or tumble down the slopes
of Greenwich Park and men would watch to try and get a glimpse
of their ankles!
20. The Trafalgar Tavern on the waterside, one of the most historic
pubs in the area, was once frequented by Thackeray, Dickens and
friends who all enjoyed the tavern’s most famous dish – whitebait
caught straight from the Thames!
For information contact the Greenwich Tourist Information Centre
on 0870 608 2000.
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