New attraction for summer 2008 – the Greenwich Observation Wheel
Laura Wilkinson
14 January 2008
The Greenwich Foundation and PWR events are delighted to announce a new addition to the landscape of Greenwich for summer 2008 – an Observation Wheel that stands taller than Nelson’s Column!
At 55 metres from the ground visitors will take in panoramic views beyond St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London to the west, across the river and past Canary Wharf to the heights of Hampstead Heath, and east to the Olympic site in the Lea Valley. In the foreground, the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site will be laid out in a rare perspective.
The Wheel will be situated within the Old Royal Naval College in front of the Pepy’s Building Visitor Centre and will be open to the public from 21 June to 28 September 2008. The Wheel is a new attraction for Greenwich helping to boost the profile of the World Heritage Site and enhance the visitor experience at a time when the Cutty Sark remains closed for restoration, and Greenwich pier is under reconstruction. In addition to welcoming thousands of tourists, one thousand free rides will be offered to local schools.
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive, Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College said;
"The Greenwich Foundation is pleased to announce this new and exciting attraction for 2008. The views from the Observation Wheel will provide visitors with the opportunity to appreciate Greenwich’s unique historic landscape from a new perspective."
The Greenwich Foundation is pleased to be extending its relationship with PWR Events who returned to the College this December for Greenwich Ice Rink’s fourth season.
Issued 14 December 2007
For additional details and imagery on the Wheel or the ice rink please contact:
Isabel Keim, Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College on 020 8269 4763 - info@greenwichfoundation.org.uk
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Notes to Editors
1. Greenwich Wheel
The Wheel will be constructed over a two-week period and will be open daily from 10am to 10pm for a total of 14 weeks from 21 June to 28 September. Pricing and booking details will be announced shortly.
The Wheel is a free standing skeletal structure that stands at 55 metres from the ground with 40 gondolas each holding six people.
2. Brief Site History
The Old Royal Naval College began life as Greenwich Hospital, which was established in 1694 by Royal Charter for the relief and support of seamen and their dependants and for the improvement of navigation. Sir Christopher Wren planned the site, described as "one of the most sublime sights English architecture affords", and, during the first half of the eighteenth century, other illustrious architects, such as Hawksmoor and Vanbrugh, completed Wren's grand design.
In June 1705, the first Pensioners arrived and, by 1814, a total of 2,710 lived at the Hospital. For three days in January 1806, Admiral Lord Nelson’s body lay-in-state in the Painted Hall. In 1869 the Hospital was closed, and in 1873 the complex of buildings became the Royal Naval College, where officers from all over the world came to train in the naval sciences. The Navy moved out in 1998 to merge with the RAF and Army at a new Joint Services Staff College in Shrivenham. With the departure of the Royal Navy from Greenwich, responsibility for the Old Royal Naval College passed to the Greenwich Foundation. The Foundation is a registered charity established to look after, interpret and provide public access to the buildings and their grounds for the benefit of the nation.
Marking the next major step for the ORNC the end of the Wheel season (28 September) will mark the beginning of the major redevelopment of the current Visitor Centre. ‘Discover Greenwich’ is a new Interpretation and Learning centre developed by the Greenwich Foundation to inspire visitors to explore the rich history of the Old Royal Naval College and the entire Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. ‘Discover Greenwich’ will include a new exhibition hall, a learning suite, and a temporary exhibition space, all located in the Pepys Building (the current Visitor Centre). The ‘Discover Greenwich’ project will extend and enrich the Greenwich Foundation’s existing interpretation and learning programmes for schools and the community – whilst adding value to every World Heritage Site visit. It is set to open autumn 2009.
