On Christmas Eve in 1805, Vice Admiral Lord Nelson’s body arrived in Greenwich, having been transported back to Britain on HMS Victory after his triumph at the Battle of Trafalgar, writes Michael Holland…
His brought him from the River Thames, where they had docked, to the Royal Hospital for Seamen, now known as the Old Royal Naval College. Nelson was highly regarded as a national hero during the Napoleonic Wars and was therefore given the honour of a lying in state in the Upper Hall of the Painted Hall, before which his body lay in a small room off the Painted Hall. This chamber was named the Nelson Room.
Greenwich became the focus of the nation’s grief; thousands of people headed to Greenwich to pay their respects. With so many arriving, the local militia had to be brought in to control the crowds.
Now, after an extensive conservation project and reinterpretation, the Old Royal Naval College is relaunching the Nelson Room with an audio-visual experience that explores the story of this national figure.
A newly commissioned bronze sculpture by Antony Dufort, Trafalgar Day at Greenwich: Victory Breaks the Line, will pay tribute to the many sailors who fought at Trafalgar and later became ‘Greenwich Pensioners’ at the Royal Hospital for Seamen.
A new multimedia guide also gives the visitor an insight into the room itself, its history, restoration, and artworks. New benches will allow visitors the chance to stop and linger, learning more about Lord Nelson and his relationship to Greenwich.
Entering the room is a sudden change from the echoey atmosphere of the Painted Hall, where guides can be heard on the other side of the hall sharing their knowledge with keen listeners, all staring up in awe at James Thornhill’s brilliant artwork.
Inside the Nelson Room there is a respectful solemnity. Without thinking you tread softly so as not to wake the dead. A circular seat allows you to sit and watch and listen to Nelson’s story. The original statue from which the one atop Nelson’s Column was created looks down at visitors. You cannot help but feel that this is a special place with a special meaning to many.
The names of the HMS Victory crew are there, plus a photograph of John Roome, the seaman who hoisted the signal, ‘England expects that every man will do his duty’. Sadly, after he left the service, John was found destitute selling watercress and herrings on the streets of Blackfriars and was taken into the Royal Hospital for Seamen where he died. Not a tale of those times so much, but confirmation that not looking after our veterans has a long history – At least not those of officer class. Perhaps, John Roome should have raised the signal, ‘Every man expects that England will do its duty’.
You will discover interesting facts about Nelson and how, in death, he was treated with much honour. You will learn about how, while his body laid in the Nelson Room, a team was dressing the Painted Hall in a manner appropriate for Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson to lie in state: black drapes, ostrich feathers…
With already so much of interest to see here, the Nelson Room is a beautiful and worthy addition.
Entry to the Nelson Room with a multimedia guide is included in the Painted Hall ticket. Nelson-themed workshops for school groups will be available. A new lift provides wheelchair access to the Nelson Room and the Upper Hall for the first time.
Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9NN. Times: 10am – 5pm. Admission: £12.50, £8.50 (Tickets valid for 12 months)
Booking: www.ornc.org