The Golden Hinde Archives – URBAN-ADVENTURER

July 14 2020

The First English Ship That Sailed Around the World – The Golden Hinde

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Ahoy, adventurers and welcome aboard of The Golden Hinde, the full-scale reconstruction of the very first English ship that sailed around the world.

Maybe The Golden Hinde is a reconstruction and is now operating as a ship museum, it has just as rich history as the original one.

The Original Ship and Sir Francis Drake

The ship originally was named as Pelican and circumnavigated the planet under the leadership of Sir Francis Drake between 1577 and 1580.

Elizabeth I secretly commissioned Sir Francis Drake to set off on an expedition against the Spanish colonies on the American Pacific coast. Drake sailed with five ships, but by the time he reached the Pacific Ocean in October 1578 only one had been left, Drake’s flagship the Pelican. Drake later renamed the Pelican to Golden Hind in honour of his patron Sir Christopher Hatton. (Source: https://www.goldenhinde.co.uk/ )

Sir Francis Drake was feared and was known as “El Draque” (The Dragon) by the Spanish in the Caribbean. Drake took significant part in the Anglo-Spanish war in 1587. He destroyed 30 Spanish ships assembled against the British. One year later, he was a vice admiral in the fleet that defeated the Spanish Armada.

(Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/drake_francis.shtml )

In 1595 Drake started a treasure hunting expedition to India but he never returned. He became severely ill and died on sea. He was burred at sea in a coffin in full armour.

Some still search for his coffin even today.

The Current Ship

Sadly, the original Golden Hinde was left in Deptford dockyard to decay in the 17^th century.

The current ship was constructed by Loring Christian Norgaard, a Canadian architect, who spent years studying historical manuscripts and evidence referring to The Golden Hinde.

The replica was launched in the Spring of 1973 and had just as adventurous life as the original one.

The ship has crossed the Atlantic two times, circumnavigated the planet one time, run over 100,000 miles and appeared in movies such as Swashbuckler (1976) and Shogun starring Richard Chamberlain (1979).

The Golden Hinde Today

Today The Golden Hinde is operating as museum ship and visitors can discover the ship from bow to stern.

The ship can even be private hired for birthdays and other private events. Music events, quizzes and educational programmes are also available to book.

Volunteering

The ship is continuously maintained to preserve its condition. The Golden Hinde team is happy to accept volunteers with diverse skills. If you are interested in volunteering, email them to [email protected]

**Where to Find The Golden Hinde?**

St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral Street, London, SE1 9DE

Admission fee:

Adults £5

Children (3 – 16) £5

Family of 4 £15

Under 3s Free

Both self-guided and guided tours are available. NO pre-booking necessary.

Enjoy your time. Fair winds and following seas!

Ready for your next adventure? Let’s sail to the marine oasis, St Katharine Docks and lose ourselves in the maze of ships and boats.

June 18 2020

Free Cool Things to Do After Quarantine – Part 2

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The City is slowly waking up after pandemic. Shops, restaurants, bars and exhibitions have started to re-opening with safety measures.

Here are a couple of shops, ships, cafés, antient temples and more you can either visit now or worth to put them on your list.

God’s Own Junkyard

God’s Own Junkyard is an Instagram heaven. The neon sign jungle is actually a family business. They collect and manufacture neon signs even for Hollywood super productions such Eyes Wide Shut with Tom Cruise or Avengers. (remember the neon “STARK” sign from the film. That’s it.)

Perfect Instagram backdrop.

To make this hidden gem even more extraordinary, I tell a secret: the place is regularly hired for filming and by magazines like Vouge for photo shoots. So, if you want photos of yourself like a star, God’s Own Junkyard is the place. Cool, huh?

The Rolling Scones Cafe

When you are there, please, make sure you support this extraordinary local business by buying a café or a yummy cake at their cool café, The Rolling Scones.

Alternatively, you can now order their recently launched book, Steel Dogs which is about “a family memoir, a journey in neon, from the seedy Soho sex shops to the movie industry.”

Opening Hours:

Friday – 11am to 9pm

Saturday – 11am to 9pm

Sunday – 11am to 6pm.

The Rolling Scones Cafe is open for food and drinks all weekend.

Gods Own Junkyard, Unit 12 Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall Street, London, E17 9HQ

Take a Virtual Ride in a McLaren

Did you know, you can sit into a blue McLaren and take it for a virtual ride in Microsoft Oxford Circus shop? All for FREE. And you will even get a “driving licence” to help you preserve the memory.

If you arrive alone but want a photo or video of your ride, don’t be shy, just ask a staff member. They are happy to capture your special moments.

253-259 Regent Street, London, England W1B 2ER

Japan House

Japan House is a cultural home of Japanese culture, heritage, art, technology, gastronomy and design.

Japan House constantly hosts events, FREE exhibitions, talks and immersive experiences.

AKIRA Restaurant & The Stand

While there, why not drink a matcha tea at The Stand or try one of their authentic dishes at AKIRA Restaurant.

Doughnut Time World

A quirky colourful doughnut themed playground for adults. Doughnut swing, ball pit, neon wall, sun bed and more.

306 High Holborn, Holborn, London WC1V 7JY

London’s Oldest Church that Survived the Great Fire

London’s oldest church was founded in the 7th century It witnessed the Viking invasion and the Great Plague, watched the Tower Bridge and The Tower of London being built and survived the Great Fire and two world wars.

Samuel Pepys the famous writer, thank to whom we have detailed information about the period of 1660s, stood on All Hallows by The Tower’s stairs, watching the deadly flames.

Under the antient staircase there is a crypt museum with a perfectly preserved Roman pavement, a wooden barrel used by Sir Ernest Shackleton on his last Antarctic expedition, documents of marriage and burials including names of well-known people and a three chapels with coffins from the Saxon period buried under them.

Entry in FREE to both the church and the crypt museum

Byward Street, London, EC3R 5BJ

The Golden Hinde

Although, stepping on the board is not free, The Golden Hide is definitely a unique place to visit.

Admission fee is as little as £5

Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the planet in a similar ship like this between 1577 and 1580. The ship’s name originally was Pelican, Drake ordered the ship to be renamed in honour of his patron Sir Christopher Hatton (the golden hind was a feature of Hatton’s family heraldry).

Sadly, The Golden Hide was destroyed 300 years ago. A replica was constructed in the 1970s and has had likewise adventurous life its original twin. The replica itself has sailed round the world and even appeared in movies such as Swashbuckler (1976) and Shogun starring Richard Chamberlain (1979).

St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral Street, London, SE1 9DE

Where to go? What to do?

Here is a collection of Insta-worthy and completely FREE things to do in London.