Greenwich is said to contain 1350 houses. Its parish church, which has been lately rebuilt by the Commissioners for erecting the fifty new churches, is a very handsome structure, dedicated to St. Alphage, Archbishop of Canterbury, who is said to have been slain by the Danes in the year 1012, on the spot where the church now stands. There is a college at the end of the town, fronting the Thames, for the maintenance of 20 decayed old housekeepers, twelve out of Greenwich, and eight who are to be alternately chosen from Snottisham and Castle-Rising in Norfolk. This is called the Duke of Norfolk’s College, though it was founded and endowed, in 1613, by Henry Earl of Northampton, the Duke of Norfolk’s brother, and by him committed to the care of the Mercers company. To this college belongs a chapel, in which the Earl’s body is laid, which, as well as his monument, was removed hither a few years ago, from the chapel of Dover Castle. The pensioners, besides meat, drink, and lodging, are allowed 1s. 6d. a week, with a gown every year, linen once in two years, and hats once in four years.
In the year 1560 Mr. Lambard, author of the Perambulation of Kent, also built and founded an hospital called Queen Elizabeth’s College, said to be the first erected by an English protestant. There are likewise two charity schools in this parish, one founded by Sir William Boreman, Knt. for twenty boys, who are cloathed, boarded, and taught; they wear green coats and caps: and the other by Mr. John Roan, who left his estate for teaching also twenty boys reading, writing, and arithmetic, and allowing 2l. per annum for each boy’s cloaths. These wear grey coats.
The river Thames is here very broad, and the channel deep; and at some very high tides the water is salt, though it is usually sweet and fresh.
S. Wale del. B. Green sculp.
Greenwich Hospital.
Greenwich Hospital, stands on the spot, where stood the palace of several of our Kings. The first wing of this noble and superb edifice, erected by K. Charles II. was designed to be applied to the same use. Indeed from the magnificence of the structure, it can scarcely be taken for any thing less than the palace of a great monarch. However King William III. being very desirous of promoting the trade, navigation, and naval strength of this kingdom, by inviting great numbers of his subjects to betake themselves to the sea, gave this noble palace, and several other edifices, with a considerable spot of ground, for the use of those English seamen and their children, who by age, wounds, or other accidents, should be disabled from farther service at sea, and for the widows and children of such as were slain in fighting at sea, against the enemies of their country. King William also by his letters patent, in 1694, appointed commissioners for the better carrying on his pious intentions, and therein desired the assistance of his good subjects, as the necessity of his affairs did not permit him to advance so considerable a sum towards this work, as he desired. In conformity to this request, many benefactions were made both in that and the succeeding reigns, to this noble charity, which, according to the tables hung up at the entrance of the hall, amount to 58,209l. and afterwards the estate of the Earl of Derwentwater, who bore a principal part in the rebellion in 1715, amounting to 6000l. per annum, was given by parliament to this hospital. The first range had cost King Charles II. 36,000l. and another was ordered to be built on the same model: this has been completed with equal magnificence, and the whole structure entirely finished.
The front to the Thames consists of these two ranges of stone buildings, with the Governor’s house at the back part in the center, behind which the park, well planted with trees, rises with a noble ascent. These buildings, between which is a large area, perfectly correspond with each other, and each range is terminated by a very noble dome.
In each front to the Thames, two ranges of coupled Corinthian columns finely wrought, support their pediments, and the same order is continued in pilasters along the building. The projection of the entablatures gives an agreeable diversity of light and shade. In the center of each part, between these ranges of Corinthian columns, is the door, which is of the Doric order, and adorned above with a tablet and pediment. Within the height of these lofty columns are two series of windows, enlightening two floors. The undermost, which are the smallest, have rustic cases crowned with pediments; while the upper series, which are larger, and more lofty, are adorned with the orders, and with upright pointed pediments. Over these is an Attic story; the entablature of the Corinthian columns and pilasters supports a regular Attic course: the pilasters of this order rising over every column, and pilaster of the Corinthian below, between which the windows are regularly disposed, and the top is crowned with a handsome balustrade.
The buildings, which are continued from these, and face the area, correspond with them, though in a finer, and more elegant manner. In the center of both is a range of columns supporting a pediment, and at each corner a range of Corinthian pilasters. The front is rusticated, and there are two series of windows. The domes at the end, which are 120 feet high, are supported on coupled columns, as are the porticos below; and under one of these is the chapel, which is adorned on the inside with the greatest elegance and beauty.
On the sides of the gate which opens to these buildings from the park, are placed a large celestial and terrestrial globe, in which the stars are gilt; and in the center of the area, is fixed on a pedestal, a statue of his Majesty King George II.