The National Maritime Museum (NMM) in Greenwich, is the flagship maritime museum for a country with historically close links to the sea. The buildings make up the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, also including the Royal Observatory, The Old Naval College, and the 17th-century Queen's House.

Greenwich was a landing place for the Romans; Henry VIII lived here in the 16th century; the navy has roots on the waterfront; and Charles II founded the Royal Observatory in 1675 for "finding the longitude of places". The home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian since 1884, Greenwich has long been a centre for astronomical study, while navigators across the world have set their clocks according to its time of day. Incidentally, this was via the 'Time Ball' from 1833 (the red round ball on top of Flamsteed House). At a precise hour (1pm GMT and BST) the ball would drop, and merchants or navigators, usually with the aid of a telescope, would reset their watches and clocks. There were other Time Balls across London, but Greenwich set the hour for the others to fall to. At 12:55 the ball rises half-way; at 12:58 it reaches the top and at 1:00pm precisely it falls.

The National Maritime Museum contains maritime art (both British and 17th-century Dutch), cartography, manuscripts, ship models and plans, scientific and navigational instruments and instruments for time-keeping and astronomy (based at the Observatory). Its British portraits collection is only rivalled by the National Portrait Gallery and information relating to Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson and Captain James Cook is extensive.

 

The National Maritime Museum was established in 1934 within Greenwich Royal Park in the buildings of the former Royal Hospital School (or Royal Naval School).

Flamsteed House (1675-76), the original part of the Royal Observatory, was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and was the first purpose-built scientific research facility in Britain.

In 1953, the Old Royal Observatory became part of the National Maritime Museum. Flamsteed House was first opened for visitors by Queen Elizabeth II in 1960. Today the buildings include a museum of astronomical and navigational tools, including John Harrison's prize-winning longitude marine chronometer, H4, and its three predecessors. Other exhibits document the history of precision timekeeping for navigation and astronomical purposes, including the mid 20th century Russian-made Fedchenko clock (the most accurate pendulum clock ever built in multiple copies). It also houses the 28-inch Grubb refracting telescope of 1893, the largest of its kind in the UK. The Shepherd Clock outside the observatory gate is an early example of an electric slave clock. The new 120 seat Peter Harrison Planetarium was officially opened in 2007.

The 17th-century Queen’s House, an early classical building designed by Inigo Jones, is the keystone of the historic "park and palace" landscape of Maritime Greenwich. The first Palladian style building in the UK, it pre-dates the rest of the site, which you can see from the large model of old Greenwich on the upper floor. The Queen's House is packed with portraits and navy scenes including the death of Captain Cook on his second visit to the Hawaiian islands.

A visit to the National Maritime Museum is a rite of passage for primary school pupils in England. I remember being uninterested with the prospect at the time, but for sheer scale and interactive exhibits, you can't fail to be drawn into both the history and the enthusiastic way in which the artifacts are presented. Surrounded by undulating parkland and some of the most varied and interesting architecture in the UK, it's a destination that will keep all ages entertained. Occasionally, historical sites can lose their sense of place and become little more than attractions harking back to former glories, but Greenwich has an atmosphere so entrenched in the past and was the foundation with which Britain extended its reach across the globe, that it's very easy for visitors to experience a direct link to its history.

If you have the chance, visit the Harrison Clocks (and watch) which are held in Flamsteed House. The history, of both their construction and refurbishment were the subject of a best-selling book "Longitude" by Dava Sobel, a highly recommended read, which lends an insight into how the oceans were accurately navigated in the past. In the epilogue, Sobel allows herself the treat of visiting the clocks for the first time on a trip to London. Despite being so intimately aware of their looks and construction through photographs and extensive research, her being moved to tears by the extraordinary beauty of their construction, is a touching end to a fascinating story.

OPEN DAILY 10.00–17.00


Entrance to the National Maritime Museum & Queen's House is free, though donations are welcome. The Royal Observatory is free for U15s - otherwise it is £10 (from 08.03.2011) for adults (multiple entry over 12 months) and £7.50 concessions.

National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF

Call:    +44 (0)20 8858 4422

 

 

 

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