Read our blog to get the lowdown from our experts and go behind the scenes at Royal Museums Greenwich.
Night sky highlights - December 2019
Discover what to see in the night sky during December 2019, including the Geminids meteor shower.
Boteler’s illustrations of the attacks on Ottoman vessels
Among the manuscripts held by the Caird Library and Archive is a file containing Lieutenant John Harvey Boteler’s observations of the Battle of Navarino. However his account contains much more information than simple notes on his role.
HMS Polyphemus, September - December 1882
HMS Thunder Child is one of the most famous fictitious warships in English literature.
Royal William Victualling Yard, Plymouth, from Mount Edgecombe with four figures in the foreground square
Names like WH Fox Talbot, Calvert R. Jones and Nicolaas Henneman are not well known within a maritime photographic context. These names are more familiar for their early pioneering photographic work using nature and architecture.
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Nuisance helping himself to a full bench on the train
The Caird Library’s archive collection contains numerous captivating stories of naval service from letters written by famous Admirals to journals kept by ordinary seamen. One of the more unusual instances of this is “Just Nuisance”: Life story of an able seaman who leads a dog’s life written by Leslie M. Steyn (RMG ID: LIS/15/4).
Boat badge and crest of HMS Delhi
World War I might have ended for some in 1919, but for others fighting continued, whether they liked it or not.
Night sky highlights - November 2019
Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn, 1772-1853
With Napoleon Bonaparte having surrendered to British forces following his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo it was decided to send him into exile once again, this time to the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena. Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn was given the task of transporting the former Emperor to the island on board HMS Northumberland and the Caird Library and Archive holds an extract from his journal (RMG ID: COC/9) covering these events.