Description: The
Royal Hospital Chelsea was established by Charles II in the late 17th century as a refuge for aging or injured soldiers. The requirements included active duty served, which resulted in injury or maiming or being awarded a medal of service, and having no family that needed supporting. A pension was awarded and the soldiers were allowed to live in small 6 foot square cubicles. Even today, ex-military men can apply to live here. They must not be married as the residences are only for single men only. The requirements are generally the same today though the dormitories have been enlarged to 9 foot square. A replica of the current room is in the museum, complete with door and curtained window that would face the hallways.
The Chelsea Pensioners wear either a navy blue uniform if they are on the grounds or a scarlet coat for going off the grounds. The large Ranleigh gardens on the south grounds abutting the Thames are where the Chelsea Flower Show is held every May. The hospital was designed by the famous architect, Christopher Wren. The large courtyard, the Figure Court, has a gilded statue of Charles II in roman dress and the colonnade along the northern side is still Wren's original work.
There is a really lovely chapel with an exquisite and very important painting over the altar by the Italian painter Sebastiano Ricci. The candle sticks on the altar are original but the cross that matches them was made in the 1950's in the same style and presented to the hospital by Elizabeth II after she was crowned. In the dining room is a long oak table where the Duke of Wellington was laid out after he passed away. The chapel is still used on Sundays for worship for people in the neighbourhood as well as the pensioners. Apparently Margaret Thatcher attends services here and her late husband's funeral service was here.
Also on the grounds are two sets of artillery guns, some from the Napoleonic wards and some from the Indian Sikh wars. Bomb damage cause major reconstruction of some parts in both World Wars. The Sovereign's Mace and a Royal Parade chair are on display in the museum as well, the Mace being used in parades and for formal occasions.
The men that worked in the shop and museum as well as several that were in the chapel and dining hall were very friendly and knowledgable about the hospital and the buildings.
The hospital is next door to the
National Army Museum which is also free to enter. I didn't go there because of time constraints.
Entrance is free, there's the chapel and dining hall to visit as well as the museum and shop and the Ranleigh Gardens. It is closed between noon and 2 p.m. and open 10 a.m. to noon, and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays through the winter and all bank holidays.
The Sloane Square tube station is the closest but it's still about a 10 or 15 minute walk from there. Bus 170 stops outside the museum. There are several busses that go down King's Road.
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