Old Royal Naval College celebrates 300 years of the Painted Hall

Three centuries ago, artist Sir James Thornhill put down his brush. Today his work can be enjoyed fully restored at one of Maritime Greenwich’s top sites

The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College - image by ORNC — The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College – image by ORNC

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“This is not a closed building and it’s not just a heritage site – these are spaces that are here for visitors to experience however they want,” said Kate Miners, director of public engagement and commercial at the Old Royal Naval College (ORNC) in Greenwich.

“If people just want to come here and enjoy a coffee or to sunbathe, then that’s great. If they want to come inside and experience something new, then that’s even better.

“It’s about breaking down barriers.”

Since arriving at the ORNC in 2020 as head of commercial partnerships, that message has very much been at the forefront of Kate’s efforts to bring ever greater numbers of visitors to Sir Christopher Wren’s storied complex of buildings and their grounds on the Thames.

Part of Maritime Greenwich, listed by Unesco as a World Heritage site, the campus is home to Trinity Laban Conservatoire Of Music And Dance, Greenwich University, a gin distillery and a pub.

But the attraction of the moment is the Painted Hall, still fresh from £8.5million of restoration that took place from 2017-2019, the ORNC is celebrating 300 years since Sir James Thornhill completed his 3,600sq m artwork.

Depicting more than 200 figures, amid scenes both fictional and real, this blockbuster work is glowing three centuries after Victorian eyes first looked upon it in all its glory.

ORNC's director of public engagement and commercial - image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life — ORNC’s director of public engagement and commercial – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

a sight to behold

“The cleaning process was almost unbelievably slow and painstaking, but now we’re able to see the detail as it looked when it was first painted,” said Kate.

“Even after six years, it still takes my breath away every time I look at it.

“I’m sure there are still figures I haven’t seen and plenty of stories I don’t know in full.

“People ask me if I get tired of looking at it, but I don’t think anyone ever could be.

“I still look up every time I go into the hall and that’s exactly what we want people to do.

“We have day-beds in there and we really encourage visitors to lie down and take in the ceiling because that’s the best way to see it.

“The people in the painting are based on real individuals and some of the stories are fascinating.

“One of my favourites is John Worley, one of the first Greenwich Pensioners to call what was then Greenwich Hospital home.

“It seems he was a bit of a mischief-maker, known for slightly drunken behaviour and he was painted as a punishment, because he had to sit still and not go to the pub. He represents Winter in the finished work.

“There’s also a depiction of Tycho Brahe, a Danish astronomer who was a bit of a menace.

“He was quite eccentric and had a pet elk or moose – depending on which source you believe – which he used to take to parties.

“He had a prosthetic brass nose due to an injury sustained during a duel with his cousin and had a liking for Danish beer, which was ultimately his downfall when he tumbled down some stairs and died – it’s a very tragic story.”

Yoga in the Painted Hall - image by Paul Gilbey — Yoga in the Painted Hall – image by Paul Gilbey

reasons to visit

The Greenwich Foundation, which looks after the Old Royal Naval College, is hosting a programme of events intended to bring as many visitors as possible to its campus to help mark the painting’s 300th anniversary year.

Kate said: “One of the things I don’t think people expect is that we have a really extensive wellness programme.

“We run Feel Good Friday morning Yoga sessions in the Painted Hall on the last Friday of the month at 8am.

“People come, take a pause in these wonderful surroundings for 45 minutes and then head off for their day.

“We also host Lie Down And Listen sessions where audiences experience deep rest and reflection as they enjoy a sound bath while looking up at the paintings.

“There are also plans for a wellness retreat with a full day of food, classes and walks across the site.”

The ORNC prides itself on an open and experimental approach to programming, aimed at attracting a diverse crowd of visitors, with Kate and the team very keen to try new things.

“Early on, our chief executive said to me that, if there was a good reason for not doing something then we’d say no to it, but if that reason was simply because we hadn’t done it before, then we shouldn’t turn something down on that basis,” she said.

“That approach has brought us incredible opportunities and has enabled us to welcome all sorts of people who might never have come here before.

“The main door to the Painted Hall’s entrance cafe and gift shop is small and leads into darkness, so we need to work hard to bring people in and we do that through activity.

“For example, we have regular tours on the history of the ORNC, the Painted Hall, but also how the area has become the UK’s most filmed heritage site seen in the likes of Bridgerton, The Crown, Pirates Of The Caribbean and Les Misérables.

“This year we have loads of events for families including a Tudor Takeover in April 2026 with activities, costumes and shows and then a Pirates Takeover in July.

“Then we’re welcoming Labyrinth On The Thames back in August for a second year – a series of live outdoor performances from the likes of The Kooks, Moby, Peggy Gou, Dom Dolla, Adriatique Present X and Anjuanadeep.

“There were questions about us hosting DJs, bands and dance music acts last year, but I saw people experiencing real joy in this wonderful space, surrounded by this architecture and it was one of the most brilliant things I’ve seen.

“The ORNC was always intended to be a place that was meant to be used and enjoyed. That’s what underpins everything we do.”