Stuart England

From uniting the kingdoms and the English Civil War, to the hedonism of the 'Merry Monarch' Charles II's court, join us as we delve into the lives and loves of the Stuart monarchs of the 16th and 17th centuries, and examine their impact on British society.

Oliver Cromwell

He is one of the most divisive figures of British history. But how did he die? 

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It's 350 years since Samuel Pepys saw the Great Plague devastate London, so why are Americans still being killed today?

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Members of the Royal family have been drawn to Greenwich as far back as the late middle ages, with the area being the site of numerous royal births, marriages and deaths.


Learn about the origins of Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night, and find out more about the history of the Gunpowder Plot.

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Christmas in Stuart times lasted a full 12 days and was enjoyed by rich and poor alike. At the royal court it lasted even longer. It began officially on 1 November and ended on 2 February!

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Greenwich Hospital was founded on the belief that England should look after her injured and aged sailors.

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Our curator, Kristian Martin, looks at the notorious sex life of the famous diarist Samuel Pepys.

Henrietta Maria etching by van Dyck

When the last Tudor ruler, Elizabeth I, died without leaving children to rule after her, the Stuart family took over.

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Inspired by a visit to our Samuel Pepys exhibition, Tim Stanton, Retrieval Technician, delves into our archives.

Samuel Pepys: Plague, Fire, Revolution - plague (tile)

Bubonic plague terrorised Europe for centuries. In 1665 a devastating epidemic struck this country killing thousands of people.