Discover Our Stories

Explore the lesser-known history of the people and events that have surrounded the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich in the last few hundred years

Who were the Lobster and the Crab? Why was George I known as the Pudding King? For what reason were two giant globes, terrestrial and celestial, placed on the West Gate entrance to the Old Royal Naval College?

These are just a few of the intriguing stories that have been linked to this site through it long and varied connections to the royalty and the navy.

Our Stories

Nina Wilkin’s War – Wrens at Greenwich and Beyond

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The Phrygian Cap – How an ancient symbol in the Painted Hall became the Paris 2024 Olympic Mascot–

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Who was Sir James Thornhill?

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Two Memorials connected by one tragedy – The Franklin Expedition

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Hidden Stories – The Greenwich Hospital Nurses

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Wartime graffiti in the Chapel dome – The Disciples of Bacchus

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Love Written in the Stars – Did James Thornhill Hide a Celestial Secret in the Painted Hall Ceiling?

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A Connection with Coal – The Derwentwater Estates

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Greenwich Hospital Chapel fire of 1779

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Christmas traditions at the Royal Naval College

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Queen Mary I – Reign of Fire and Faith

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The Battle of Trafalgar

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Napoleon, Emperor of France Vs Nelson, Britannia’s ‘God of War’

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Hidden Stories – Black Women of Greenwich

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‘Brushed Aside’ – A Tainted Love Story

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Grand Architecture – Connecting One King Charles to Another

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The West Gate Globes

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A Naval Art Gallery That Is No More

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Greenwich in the time of the Victorians – A Dickens retrospective

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A Secret Nuclear Reactor in the Heart of Greenwich

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Admiral Hardy – Hero of Trafalgar Terrified of Trains

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Caroline of Brunswick – The Uncrowned Queen

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Shakespeare, Elizabeth I and a real Comedy of Errors

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Pirates’ Plunder and the Painted Hall

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International Women’s Day – Remembering Eleanor Coade

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Dick Dock, the Lobster and the Crab

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George I – ‘Pudding King’?

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Haunting History at the Old Royal Naval College

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John Evelyn – Treasurer of Greenwich Hospital

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The Closure of Greenwich Hospital for Seamen

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Why did Henry VIII become a tyrant?

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Discover Our Stories

Our History

Our Stories

Nina Wilkin’s War – Wrens at Greenwich and Beyond

The Phrygian Cap – How an ancient symbol in the Painted Hall became the Paris 2024 Olympic Mascot–

Who was Sir James Thornhill?

Two Memorials connected by one tragedy – The Franklin Expedition

Hidden Stories – The Greenwich Hospital Nurses

Wartime graffiti in the Chapel dome – The Disciples of Bacchus

Love Written in the Stars – Did James Thornhill Hide a Celestial Secret in the Painted Hall Ceiling?

A Connection with Coal – The Derwentwater Estates

Greenwich Hospital Chapel fire of 1779

Christmas traditions at the Royal Naval College

Queen Mary I – Reign of Fire and Faith

The Battle of Trafalgar

Napoleon, Emperor of France Vs Nelson, Britannia’s ‘God of War’

Hidden Stories – Black Women of Greenwich

‘Brushed Aside’ – A Tainted Love Story

Grand Architecture – Connecting One King Charles to Another

The West Gate Globes

A Naval Art Gallery That Is No More

Greenwich in the time of the Victorians – A Dickens retrospective

A Secret Nuclear Reactor in the Heart of Greenwich

Admiral Hardy – Hero of Trafalgar Terrified of Trains

Caroline of Brunswick – The Uncrowned Queen

Shakespeare, Elizabeth I and a real Comedy of Errors

Pirates’ Plunder and the Painted Hall

International Women’s Day – Remembering Eleanor Coade

Dick Dock, the Lobster and the Crab

George I – ‘Pudding King’?

Haunting History at the Old Royal Naval College

John Evelyn – Treasurer of Greenwich Hospital

The Closure of Greenwich Hospital for Seamen

Why did Henry VIII become a tyrant?