The Palace
Entry to the Palace is through two magnificent wooden doors into the Great Hall, one of Blenheim’s architectural glories. It is particularly outstanding for Sir James Thornhill’s painted ceilings and the stone carvings by Grinling Gibbons.
The Palace was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, and
building began in 1705. Vanbrugh was not a trained architect and worked
alongside the qualified and practical Nicholas Hawksmoor to build the awe-inspiring
Palace that stands here today.
Blenheim Palace is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. From the imposing
vastness of the Great Hall, to the intricate detailing of the State Rooms,
the Palace interiors beautifully balance the delicate with the awe-inspiring.
Collections of portraits, tapestries and an exquisite collection of Boulle
furniture grace the individual rooms, whilst the magnificent Nicholas Hawksmoor
ceilings and the stone work of Grinling Gibbons throughout the Palace should
not be missed.
In the China Ante Room are displays of Meissen and Sevres porcelain. The
Green Drawing Room, Red Drawing room and the Green Writing Room ceilings
are the work of Nicholas Hawksmoor and feature beautiful portraits of members
of the family. Taking pride of place in the Green Writing Room is the famous
Blenheim Tapestry, showing Marlborough in his hour of triumph as he accepts
Marshall Tallard’s surrender after the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.
The tapestry is a superb example of the weaver’s art and is the first
in a series of 10 Victory tapestries which grace the walls of the other
State Rooms.
The Saloon is also known as the state dining room and is now used by the
family once a year on Christmas Day. The magnificent ceiling was painted
by Louis Laguerre . Various nations are represented in wall paintings, whilst
the ceiling shows the 1st Duke in victorious progress but stayed by the
hand of peace.
The three apartments connecting the Saloon and the Long Library on the south
front are known as the First, Second and Third State Rooms. A copy of Marlborough’s
famous dispatch from the battlefield at Blenheim to his Duchess Sarah, is
on display in the First State Room. Also on display is the Quit Rent Standard,
which, on Royal Order, a new standard is presented to the sovereign on every
anniversary of the Battle of Blenheim.
The West Wing of the Palace, running 55 meters in length, is the ‘Long
Library’. It is considered to be Nicholas Hawksmoor’s finest room.
Originally designed as a picture gallery, the room displays fine stucco
decoration in the false domes by Isaac Mansfield. On view are full length
portraits of Queen Anne, King William III and the 1st Duke of Marlborough.
But perhaps the most impressive feature of this room is the magnificent
Willis organ.
You are invited to join a guided tour of the State Rooms or walk at your
own pace through the house, absorbing the atmosphere of its beautiful rooms
and the inspirational history formed over the last 300 years.
Guided tours do not take place on Sundays, bank holidays or exceptionally
busy days, however Guides will be on hand in each room to give full details
of the collections.
The Churchill Exhibition
Sir Winston Churchill, arguably the greatest parliamentarian this country has ever seen, was born at Blenheim Palace on the 30th November 1874 at 1.30am. Typical of his later impatience, he had arrived several weeks early. Blenheim may never have been Churchill’s home, for the estate and family title passed to his cousin, the 9th Duke (a lifelong friend always known as ‘Sunny’), but for five years in the 1890’s Churchill was heir presumptive to the dukedom, and it was always where his roots remained.
His birth room is on view to visitors and is set west of the Great Hall in the suite of apartments once allotted to the 1st Duke of Marlborough’s domestic Chaplain.
When he was asked whether, just before his birth, his mother, Lady Randolph, was attending a ball in the Long Library or was out with a shooting-party in the park, he replied ‘Although present on that occasion, I have no clear recollection of the events leading up to it.’
It was during the summer of 1908, in the gardens of Blenheim at the Temple of Diana overlooking the lake, that Mr Winston Churchill, as he was then, proposed to Miss Clementine Hozier, who was to become his devoted wife.
In the Churchill Exhibition, near the birth room, can be seen Oscar Nemon’s bronze of Sir Winston and Lady Churchill as well as Sir Winston’s painting of the Great Hall at Blenheim.
Other interesting exhibits include several of his lively letters, a superb collection of first day covers commemorating Sir Winston Churchill and many fascinating photographs of this great man at Blenheim Palace.
At one time during his early life, and before the birth of the 10th Duke, Sir Winston Churchill was heir to the Dukedom. But, as an article by the 10th Duke in the Weekend Telegraph on the 9th September 1966 said, "much as Winston cared for Blenheim, it would not have appealed to him to go down in history as its owner – he had other and better ideas".
Sir Winston Churchill did have other and better ideas, but his love of Blenheim remained to his dying day and when he passed away in 1965, he chose to be buried beside his parents Lord and Lady Randolph Churchill, in the churchyard at Bladon – the tower of which, may be seen from the Saloon in Blenheim Palace. When Lady Churchill died in 1977, her remains were laid to rest beside those of her husband, as they would both have wished.
'Blenheim Palace: the Untold Story'
A brand new visitor experience, 'Blenheim Palace: The Untold Story' is open upstairs within Vanbrugh's awe-inspiring Palace. The new state of the art experience utilises innovative projection technology, animatronic figures and touch screen technology to bring the last 300 years alive through the eyes of the servants. The experience is self guided and takes about 35 minutes. It adds a new dimension to the magnificent State Room tour downstairs and introduces visitors to some of the more colourful characters from the past.
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The Palace |
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