Stunning ceiling inside the Old Royal Naval College restored to its former glory in painstaking £3million refurb project
Incredible fresco by Sir James Thornhill King depicts William III and Queen Mary II, who founded the Royal Hospital for Seamen in 1694
WORK has begun on a £3million project to restore Britain’s answer to the Sistine Chapel to its former glory.
The magnificent Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London will be given a thorough refurb over the next three years.
Skilled conservators will work on the ceiling’s painted surfaces which were created between 1707 and 1726 by the artist Sir James Thornhill.
The project will allow future visitors to enjoy the 40,000 square foot creation close-up.
It depicts King William III and Queen Mary II, who founded the Royal Hospital for Seamen in 1694.
In the spectacular fresco, the King and Queen are pictured with the Vestibule and its soaring cupola, which lists the donors who contributed to the establishment of the Royal Hospital.
It’s the hall’s first major restoration in over half a century and over its three-year duration will see it cleaned of layers of dirt.
The building itself was designed by famed architects Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor and built between 1696 and 1712.
The Painted Hall was originally used by Navy veterans but, once completed, it was deemed too grand to act as a dining hall and instead well-to-do visitors were allowed in to look around with the pensioners acting as tour guides.
Admiral Nelson’s body to laid in state their in 1806 and a plaque still marks the spot where his coffin lay.
The last restoration work was carried out in the 1950s when 15 layers of varnish had to be meticulously removed.
Most recently it has been used as a location for films such as the Pirates of the Caribbean and The Iron Lady.
William Palin, Conservation Director for the Old Royal Naval College, said: ‘The Painted Hall is one of Britain’s greatest architectural and artistic treasures but it is too little known.
‘Central to this project is cutting-edge conservation and the highest curatorial standards. These will give the Painted Hall the national and international prominence it deserves.’
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