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 Greenwich Park |
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This beautiful Greenwich Park is a vast 163-acre park that is set on a hill between Blackheath and the River Thames. Greenwich Park lines the south bank of the River Thames in east London and is the oldest enclosed Royal Park , dating back to 1433.
The location of the river up to the Royal Observatory at the top of the hill gives visitors spectacular views of central London and the Docklands development.
The park once formed the grounds of Greenwich Palace whose land is owned by the Crown to this day. It is home to the Royal Observatory and the grand buildings of the National Maritime Museum. Because of this, it is the distinguished home of Greenwich Mean Time since the International Meridien Conference of 1884.
Historically, Greenwich Park was enclosed by Henry VI in 1433 and its brick wall was constructed in the reign of James I. The remains of a Roman temple and Saxon mounds have been found here. Henry VIII was born at Greenwich Palace, then known as Placentia, in 1491. Deer were introduced in 1515, and a herd still grazes the 13 acre Wilderness with its hunting grounds and proximity to the home fleet of Henry VII.
Henry VIII was King of England and later King of Ireland, from 22 April 1509 until his death. He is famous for having been married six timesand considered the most powerful among the British monarchs. It was during his reign that the break with Rome and the subsequent establishment of the independent Church of England , the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the union of England and Wales all happened.
Greenwich Palace was, and always had been, Henry's favorite residence. His daughters Mary I and Elizabeth I were both born here. It was at Greenwich that Sir Walter Ralegh put his cloak over a puddle so Elizabeth I would not get her feet wet.
The other features of the park include a pond with wildfowl, a flower garden, and a children's playground. In the summer bands perform in the park where other special events also happen simultaneously. These events include open air theatre, puppet shows in the playground and café music.
Other than these fun-filled activities, the park also provides a setting for several historic buildings. Among these include the Old Royal Observatory, the Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum and the Queen's House.
In 1616 James I commissioned Inigo Jon es to rebuild the Tudor palace, and the resulting 'Queen's House' was the first Palladian villa built in England. Later in the 17th century, the park was redesigned by André Le N, the French landscape gardener. Charles II's designs for a new palace was later adapted to become the Old Royal Naval College.
The Old Royal Observatory and Flamstead House, created by Sir Christopher Wren, stand at the top of the hill. The meridian 0 longitude, which passes through Greenwich Park at the Old Royal Observatory, divides the globe into East and West. At 13:00 every day the Observatory's big red ball can be seen to drop, which is an indication for the makers of chronometers, navigators' clocks and sailors on the Thames to set their clocks by it.
To the south-west of the park stands the Ranger's House, dating from 1700. This now has the Suffolk Collection of 17th century English portraits by Sir Peter Lely, William Larkin and others, as well as a display of historic musical instruments.
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