The Greenwich Pensioner - Bazely Street, London, UK
N 51° 30.571 W 000° 00.651
30U E 707420 N 5710724
This pub is on the west side of Bazely Street that runs between East India Dock Road and Poplar High Street in East London.
Waymark Code: WMFP1V
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/11/2012
Views: 2
A fact that I was unaware of is that a
'Greenwich Pensioner' is the Royal Navy's equivalent of the Army's 'Chelsea
Pensioner'.
The Royal Museums Greenwich website [visit
link] tells us:
"Just as Chelsea Hospital was
instituted for soldiers who had been injured or grown old in the service of the
crown, Greenwich Hospital was built for seamen in 1695.
Seamen contributed sixpence a month
from their pay towards the upkeep of the hospital. Pensioners were admitted from
1705 and originally wore a uniform of dark gray with a blue lining and brass
buttons. The colour of the uniforms changed to brown and then blue. Families of
pensioners were not allowed to live with them in the Hospital so many lived in
the Greenwich area.
By the 19th century it was found
preferable to pay out pensions and in 1869 the Hospital closed.
Records of Greenwich Pensioners are
held at The National Archives, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond,
Surrey."