The Queen's House

The Queen's house in Greenwich shall be used as a VIP centre in the 2012 Olympic games.

 

It is one of the most important buildings in the history of British architecture and the first fully classical building to have been constructed in Britain.

Architect Inigo Jones was commissioned back in 1615 to construct the building for Anne of Denmark, the Queen of King James I of England. From how tradition tells it, it seems that James I gave her the manor of Greenwich as an apology gift for having sworn at her in public after she accidentally shot one of his favourite dogs whilst out hunting.

Jones had just got back from his tour of Roman, Renaissance and Palladian architecture (a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect, Andrea Palladio) in Italy, and had risen to fame as a designer of court entertainments.
The Queen's house shows us the first introduction of Palladianism (Palladio's interpretation, as of the 17^th century, was adapted to the style known as Palladianism) to British architecture at a time where the best native buildings in Britain were still in red-brick Tudor style.
The house now forms part of the National Maritime Museum, and since 2001 has put on display fine-art collections of maritime paintings and portraits.
There is an on-going programme of displays and temporary exhibitions.
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/about/history/queens-house/

If you visit the Queen's house in Greenwich, you'll come across the English painter William Hodges. He was a member of James Cook's second voyage to the Pacific Ocean as the expedition's artist in 1772 – 1775. Many of his sketches and wash paintings were used in Cook's journals, and upon his return to London he produced large-scale landscape oil paintings from his Pacific travels. You can check out his exhibition here http://www.nmm.ac.uk/upload/package/30/home.php

The Mistress Lady Hamilton

Lord Nelson had a mistress, Emma, Lady Hamilton. 

 

Lady Hamilton was the wife of Sir William Hamilton, British Envoy to Naples.

Emma first met Nelson in 1793 when she welcomed him to her home to gather reinforcements against the French.

After 5 years, Nelson returned to Naples in 1798. His adventures had been cruel to him and Emma nursed him under her husband's roof. They soon fell in love and their affair was encouraged by the elderly Sir William, who had both great admiration and respect for Nelson.

Emma Hamilton and Horatio Nelson by that time, had become the two most famous Britons in the world.

Upon Nelson's summons back to Britain in 1800, he bought along with him both Emma and William and the three lived together openly. The affair became public knowledge and Nelson was sent back to sea.

Emma bore Nelson two children, Horatia Nelson and a second child, who died a few weeks after her birth in early 1804.

That statue in Trafalgar Square

Horatio Nelson was a flag officer who was famous for his service to the Royal Navy, in particular during the Napoleonic Wars. Noted for having been an inspirational leader, his command resulted in a number of decisive naval victories, his best known victory having been at the Battle of Trafalgar, where he met his timely death.

Nelson's death at Trafalgar secured his position as one of Britain's most heroic figures and out of the many monuments created in his memory, Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square remains one of the most recognised memories.

Nelson’s Trafalgar coat is on display in Maritime London at the Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

His coat has been on public display for over 150 years. You can see the hole where Nelson was shot, blood stains, the lot.

This display also explores Nelson's story from his battles, the Battle of Trafalgar, his death, funeral and commemoration in the capital. Visitors can see and read all about his life and death and there are objects, paintings and manuscripts.

When Nelson died, his body was placed in a cask of brandy mixed with camphor and myrrh.

Nelson's corpse was taken to Greenwich and placed in a lead coffin.

He lay in state in the Painted Hall at Greenwich for three days, before being taken up river aboard a barge, and his funeral was held in St Paul's Cathedral.

If you visit Greenwich, visit the Old Royal Naval College where both the Chapel and Painted Hall are situated. You'll find a inscription where the body of Lord Nelson lay in state in 1806.

http://www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org/about-us,6,AT.html 

http://www.nmm.ac.uk/

Worlds End

I couldn't resist going and getting a look at The Worlds End shop myself and so off I traipsed all the way to Fulham's Kings Road for my own little experience.

From the outside, the shop is fairly petite, if you're tall, you have to lower your head slightly to get through the door and the interior holds a classic yet contemporary selection of Viv Westwood including jewellery and accessories, handbags, shoes, and many show samples are for purchase.

The prices were 'reasonable', out of my budget, in fact, I went charity shop hunting after my look round in the shop.