Blenheim Palace
A magnificent Palace of impressive pomp and splendour, set in fabulous landscaped gardens, Blenheim is the most elaborate piece of Queen Anne architecture in Britain and a World Heritage Site, linked with highly esteemed designers and statesmen from Vanbrugh to Churchill.
When building on this grand palace begun in 1704, it was deemed by Queen Anne, a ‘Royall and National Monument’, a flamboyant thank you to John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough for defeating the French in the Battle of Blenheim. This altered the course of European history by ending French pan-European ambitions and raising Britain to the ascendancy and laying the foundations for the British Empire in centuries to come.
The 2,500 acres of the Royal Manor of Woodstock were granted to Marlborough and this palatial pad was built for him at the expense of the crown. Built in the classical English Baroque style, Blenheim Palace employed the most eminent architects of the day, Nicholas Hawksmoor, Sir John Vanbrugh and the famous landscape gardener Capability Brown.
Blenheim Palace is an architectural marvel, full of pomp and patriotism outlining the history and wealth of a very prestigious aristocratic family the Spencer-Churchills. Hugely knowledgeable guided tours take you around the sumptuous interiors which include the 20m high Great Hall painted with scenes from Marlborough’s victory, the fabulous marble saloon and the Long Library, some 55m long with a marvellous stucco ceiling and in the chapel is the grand marble tomb of Marlborough. The State Rooms include an interesting exhibition on Winston Churchill based on original letters and notes written by him. Churchill, recently voted the greatest ever Britain, was born at Blenheim, he was married here and he is buried in a church in nearby Bladon.
The grounds include fabulous Italianate Gardens and Water Terrace gardens as well as an expansive lake crossed by the Grand Bridge leading up the Column of victory another reminder of Marlborough’s military prowess.
