Cutty Sark was built exclusively for the China tea trade. Tea had been enjoyed in Asia for centuries, but it did not reach Britain until the 1650s.
Initially hailed for its medicinal qualities, tea was mainly enjoyed by the wealthy. But thanks, in part, to an extensive smuggling network, its popularity exploded. Tea taxes were slashed [...]
Archive for the tag 'Greenwich'
Filed under Heritage, Out & About
Cutty Sark
10 Comments CherryPie on Aug 1st 2024
Filed under Out & About
The Queen’s House, Greenwich
Information from The Queen’s House website:
This bright white villa was at the cutting edge of architecture and design when it was completed in the 1630s.
During the 17th century the Queen’s House was a royal ‘House of Delights’: a luxurious retreat for Kings and Queens, a place of pleasure for court favourites, and a thriving studio [...]
6 Comments CherryPie on Jul 31st 2024
Filed under Anecdotes, Out & About
Greenwich
On our most recent visit to London the trains were perfectly on time both to and from London although the same could not be said for other modes of transport during the day.
On arrival in London, we caught the tube to Charing Cross to board a water bus to Greenwich. As we waited for the [...]
6 Comments CherryPie on Jul 27th 2024
Filed under Out & About
Agent C…
… surveying the area on her most recent adventure…
8 Comments CherryPie on Jul 26th 2024
Filed under Art, Holidays, London 2014
Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle
By Yinka Shonibare
Shonibare’s scale model of Nelson’s flagship, Victory, is the world’s largest ship in a bottle. The model is rigged with sails, naval ensigns and signal flags shown as they were on the day of the Battle of Trafalgar. The only significant departure from historical reality is the design of the 37 sails, which [...]
6 Comments CherryPie on Sep 18th 2014
Filed under Heritage, Holidays, London 2014
Altazimuth Pavilion Weather Vane
The Altazimuth Pavilion is topped with an unusual weather vane.
It is modelled on Halley’s Comet, as depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry. It was erected in June 1901, a few years after the building was completed but in time for the comet’s return in 1909. There is a clear link with the Observatory’s history since Halley [...]
6 Comments CherryPie on Sep 17th 2014
Filed under Holidays, London 2014
The Planetarium
This modern structure placed alongside the old observatory buildings draws the eye. It is only on closure inspection that all is revealed…
The truncated bronze cone covering the planetarium dome. Its form and orientation reflect the local meridian and latitude.
4 Comments CherryPie on Sep 16th 2014
