Our history

‘The relief and support of seamen serving on board the Shipps or Vessells belonging to the Navy Royall who by reason of Age, Wounds or other disabilities shall be uncapable of further Service at Sea and being unable to maintain themselves.

And for the Sustentation of the Widows and the Maintenance and Education of the Children of Seamen happening to be slain or disabled. Also, for the further reliefe and Encouragement of Seamen and Improvement of Navigation.’

The first Pensioners arrived at Greenwich in 1705, at what is now known as the Old Royal Naval College. At its height, more than 2,000 pensioners lived at the Hospital. As social conditions changed, the focus moved to other forms of support and the last pensioner left in 1869. Greenwich Hospital then devoted its resources to paying pensions and educating children.  The Royal Naval College used the Hospital’s original buildings at Greenwich from 1873 until July 1998. 

Today, Greenwich Hospital leases the site to the Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College, a charity established to take responsibility for preserving, finding new uses for, and encouraging public access to the site.  

The Royal Hospital School, established in 1712 by Greenwich Hospital, provided education for the children of seafarers. In 1933, the school relocated to its current purpose-built campus in Suffolk. Ownership of the school was transferred to the Inspired Learning Group (ILG) in November 2025.