Explore the Old Royal Naval College with Open House London, September 15 and 16 2007
The Old Royal Naval College will be open on Saturday September 15 and Sunday 16 for tours of the historic buildings. The Greenwich Foundation will be offering a number of tours and opening Admiral’s House and the Nelson Room exhibition especially for the weekend plus visitors will be able to access those buildings now occupied by the University of Greenwich and Trinity College of Music .
The majestic Grade I listed buildings of the Old Royal Naval College were designed by Sir Christopher Wren and constructed between 1694 and 1814. By the early 19th century the Royal Hospital for Seamen was home to over 2,000 retired Navy personnel. In 1873 the Royal Navy took over the site, training over 27,000 officers at the Royal Naval College during the Second World War.
During the Open House, weekend tours of the building will take in the features of the site, which includes Sir James Thornhill's spectacular Painted Hall and James 'Athenian' Stuart's Chapel. Extensive restoration of the site has restored many period features including original wood panelling in King William Court and Portland stonework in Queen Anne Court.
Highlights of the weekend include performances by Trinity College of Music students and a chance to find out about traditional building techniques in the Building Limes Forum ’Lime Fair’.
Open House London gives the public access to over 600 of London's historic and modern buildings over the weekend of September 15 and 16. Entry to all buildings, and guided tours, is free.
Programme of events
Saturday September, 15
10am to 5pm: Painted Hall, Chapel and Nelson Room exhibition will all be open. Site wide tours including Jacobean Undercroft plus tours of Admiral’s House 12 noon to 3.30pm: Samuel Pepys character performance in the Painted Hall.
Sunday 16 September
10am to 5pm: Painted Hall, Chapel and Nelson Room exhibition will all be open. Site wide tours including Jacobean Undercroft plus tours of Admiral’s House
11am to 4.30 pm:Tours of Queen Anne, Queen Mary Court, King Charles Court and King William Courts.1pm: Music from the Boehm Clarinet Quartet and Indigo Saxophone Quartet, from Trinity College of Music.
For more information:
Old Royal Naval College: www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org
London Open House: www.openhouse.org.uk
Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site: www.greenwichfoundation.org.uk
University of Greenwich: www.greenwich.ac.uk
Trinity College of Music: www.tcm.ac.uk
For media information, images and interviews contact: Public Relations, University of Greenwich, k.a.jones@gre.ac.uk or 020 8331 9420