Restoration Project: Restoration and Conservation Projects
Restoration and Conservation Projects
The challenge to keep pace with the renovation and conservation requirements of the Palace is very daunting and we cannot afford to stop the annual process to look after and maintain this priceless building. Inevitably sometimes the work has to be in areas where it will impact upon our visitors and where we cannot get the work undertaken during the short closed period in the winter. We will always apologise for such inconvenience and work hard to explain the necessity for such works and the ongoing preservation of the building for future generations to enjoy.
East Courtyard Visitor Centre, Catering and Retail Development
Blenheim Palace is pleased to announce that it has obtained planning permission to extend and update its visitor catering, retail and WC facilities. The project commenced in December 2011 and is due to complete in the summer of 2012.
The project is the single largest construction project at the Palace since it was completed in the 1720s. It involves the covering in of the former Palace laundry drying yard to create a new retail area and visitor reception/orientation facilities and converting the old laundry, which in the recent past has just been used as a storage space in to new and expanded WC facilities.
The existing Flagstaff shop will become an additional catering area offering snack, drinks and a “grab and go” type offer, this will free up the existing Water Terraces cafe for an “assisted service” style cafe/restaurant use. The revised catering arrangements’ we hope will significantly increase the variety and quality available to visitors, they will be further driven forward by Searcys who have recently been appointed to run the visitor catering at the Palace. Searcys currently operate from various prestigious locations including: The Hurlingham Club, The Pump Rooms in Bath and the iconic London Gherkin where they operate a reception and dining facility over the top 4 floors.
During the course of the project we will be carrying out many heritage associated repair works including a significant amount of masonry repairs in the East Courtyard area. Further details of the project including a copy of the Statement of Significance (a report commissioned as part of the planning process to establish the historical significance of this area of the Palace) will be updated periodically on the website along with a number of other work in progress photographs.
For the duration of the works, temporary catering, retail and toilet facilities can be found in the East Courtyard, the main Palace cafe and toilets will be open as usual during Palace opening hours.
