Greenwich

Greenwich, a town in Kent, six miles S.E. of London by river, on the right bank of the Thames. In the reign of AEthelred II. the Danish fleet moored here. It had a royal residence, called Greenwich House, so early as the 13th century, which, after being granted to two great nobles, reverted to the crown on the death of the "good" Duke Humphrey of Gloucester in 1433. In this palace were born Henry VIII. and his two daughters. It was also much used as a residence by the earlier Stuarts, but was pulled down by Charles II., who began Greenwich Hospital, which was added to in the reigns of William III. and Anne by Inigo Jones and Wren. It was rebuilt in 1811, when a chapel was also erected. It was liberally endowed, and at one time accommodated 3,000 seamen, as well as giving out-door relief to some 5,000 more. In 1869, however, a system of pensions was substituted for the board and lodging; and since 1873 the buildings have been used as a Royal Naval College. There are numerous charitable institutions in Greenwich, among which may be mentioned Trinity Hospital, founded in 1613; Queen Elizabeth's College; the Jubilee Almshouse, founded in 1809 by the natives of the town; and the schools called the Orphan Girls', the Green Coat, and the Grey Coat. Greenwich Park, the area of which is nearly 200 acres, was laid out by Charles II., but was enclosed muoh earlier. From a hill towards the south a fine view of London may be obtained. The Royal Observatory, from the meridian of which longitude is reckoned, was built in 1675. The borough of Greenwich returned two burgesses in the reign of Elizabeth, but was unrepresented from 1577 till 1832. By the Reform Bill it was divided into three single-member districts.