Greenwich Palace

Greenwich, just six miles (9.5 km) south-east of London, commands the river approach to the capital. Some records point to a building on this site before the 15th century, but it first came to real prominence after the death of King Henry V in 1422. His brother Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, who was acting as regent, built an imposing riverside house called Bella Court. A few years later Humphrey fell out with the new queen, Margaret of Anjou, and in 1447 he was arrested for high treason. He died in prison - Shakespeare says he was murdered - and Margaret took over Bella Court, renaming it the Palace of Pleasaunce, or Placentia.

Under the Tudor monarchs the long association between Greenwich and the navy began. As king, Henry VIII established naval dockyards at nearby Deptford and Woolwich. Elizabeth I made Greenwich Palace the scene of great festivals, including "launch parties" for many voyages of exploration. In 1581 Francis Drake was knighted at Deptford after sailing round the world, and here in Greenwich Elizabeth signed the orders that sent out her fleet against the Spanish Armada. Towards the end of her reign Drake and his companion at arms, Sir John Hawkins, set up the Chatham Chest, a charitable scheme for disabled seamen foreshadowing the later Hospital. Elizabeth's successor, James I, commissioned a new Queen's House at Greenwich for his wife, Anne of Denmark.

After the English Civil War Charles II had ambitious plans for a new "King's House", but lack of money stopped the work after only one wing had been completed.

Archaeological excavation work completed in January 2006 uncovered the Tudor Chapel and Vestry with its tiled floor in situ. The Vestry survived the demolition of the rest of the Palace and was later converted into a house for the Treasurer of Greenwich Hospital, a position first held by diarist John Evelyn between 1697 and 1703. Evidence of this later re-use includes brick floors and inserted fireplaces.

For more information and to view the BBC London Inside Out programme featuring the Tudor Chapel excavations visit
BBC London Inside Out - Tudor Chapel programme