October 9th, 2011: Part 2 - Marytime Museum

Hello! I promised last post I would talk  about the Maritime Museum in Greenwich! So, without further adue.   The museum is a comiliaton of London's seafaring history - also including relics  that reflect the nautical geniuses froma round  Europe. It is located at the front of the enclosed park mentioend in part one. 

As with many buildings in Engladn at the moment - especially in cities near London there was scaffolding around the Maritime, but here is what the museum looked like from this angle. 

The museum is full of really cool relics and information about London during the prosperous port years, as well as ships and mastheads from other countries. I was really shocked and pleasantly surprised by the size of the mastheads - which have always looked so tiny when they are attached to a ship. In reality they are pretty massive and weigh a lot more than they appear to. 

As I said before - this would be apart of a masthead - located beneath or on the front prow of a ship. This one was previously attached to His Majesties Ship Adventure in 1855. The ship was built by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead- but the ships original name Resolute - was changed in 1957 due to her activity in China and the East Indies. The ship itself was broken-up in 1877 and a shipyard in Chatham.

There are other spectacular ships and relics within the museum that make me excited that the 20th century has advanced ships and nautical equipment. Some of the craftsmanship is absolutely amazing. Some of the design on some ships  makes it obvious they were owned by royals. 

This was built in the early days of modern Europe and could fit three people in the hull. It was built for speed and balance. At least three other boats like it were built  in the coming years after the style was created.

The lavish ship of a Louis of France - I believe. I know it is capable of floating but I can't wrap my head around how it could have fitted over a few people. I guess people were shorter and smaller then.

I thought these were beautiful relics on the door frame. In centre is a half-block model of of the battle cruiser His Majesties Ship Repulse form 1916. On either side, left and right respectively, are carvings on Justice and and Plenty which would have been on the  port and starboard sides of  a ship - the name for which ins unknown.

Outside the Maritime in a quadrangle or quart yard type area are the anchors of ships. Once again, their sheer size and weight mystify me and I seriously have more respect for saliors and naval men for their ability to way and lift anchor. 

See what I mean? Look how small I am compared to it. I really admire men who can lift that up on a string. Seriously.

Just chilling on a an anchor.

And that was my land lubber adventure at the Maritime!

~ H.C.