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Greenwich,
a Saxon word meaning Green Port, thought to have been established between
the 7th and 9th centuries, but the Romans were here and so were others before.
Its maritime history is a long and glorious one.
Greenwich was also the favourite residence of two very important and well-known English monarchs – King Henry VIII and his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, both born at Greenwich. Queen Elizabeth referred to Greenwich Palace as “the house, garden and walks that may compare with the most delicate in Italy" .
It
was only fitting that the country's naval hero, Lord Nelson, killed at the
Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, should lay in State in the magnificent Painted Hall
of the old Royal Naval College.
What
about Greenwich's neighbours – Deptford, Woolwich and Charlton? Did you know
that King Henry VIII established the Royal Dockyard in Woolwich The King's Yard
so that his ship The Great Harry could be built? Did you also know that
Shakespeare's playwright rival, Christopher Marlowe was murdered in Deptford and
is reputed to be buried in St. Nicholas' church?
These are just but a few of Greenwich's connections with some of its famous neighbours in their heydays; if you are interested in knowing more, I think this Talk with slides would be one for you!