Royal Chelsea Hospital

Today we are visiting the Royal Chelsea Hospital, courtesy of our new best friends, the Lutyens Society (see my post on Goddards and Munstead Wood). Approaching from Sloane Square we passed the very imposing main range of buildings. Apologies for my finger getting in the way!

 Here is a close-up version of of the tower and clock in the main pediment.

The Hospital was in fact the first large project designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It was started in 1682 and completed in 1692 as a retreat for veterans. The idea of a retreat, rather than the payment of pensions, was inspired by Les Invalides in Paris. Wren later expanded his design to add two additional quadrangles, known as Light Horse Court and College Court.

We entered the Hospital via the East Road Gate further along the road and immediately confronted with the main building in College Court.

 

We were escorted into a smallish room where our Guide regaled us with the life of the Chelsea Pensioners. It was an interesting presentation by a Pensioner only a few years older than I am, but my real interest was the architecture.

 We emerged into a very large space with the rear elevation of the main range on our left.

On the left side was the open-ended side wing ...

                                   

... with a rather less attractive view of the former Power Station.

Moving around Figure Court it was possible to get a closer view of the golden statue near the far corner. It depicts Charles II and was the work of Grinling Gibbons.

Now into the Great Hall and then Wren's beautiful Chapel. Apparently Margaret Thatcher regularly worshiped there.

To conclude our tour we passed the further of the two ranges, Light Horse Court. I think these are both now used as offices.