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Group Themed Tours |
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Themed Tours for Groups
Guided tours are a continuing highlight of a visit to Blenheim Palace, providing visitors with enlightening facts on the history, family and events that shaped Britain’s Greatest Palace. The tours are available to groups during February, March, October and November 2007 and 2008. Any dates are available but must be booked well in advance.
Over the last 300 years, the famous and infamous, have visited and lived in this masterpiece of English baroque architecture. For the first time, Blenheim Palace is offering visitors a series of entertaining themed talks and tours about the personalities and special collections within the Palace.
The Unknown Winston
– led by John Forster, Palace Archivist & Historian
The private resources of Blenheim are drawn upon to afford very new and refreshing insights this remarkable man. A talk followed by a special tour creates a fresh understanding of Churchill, ranging informatively, entertainingly and often movingly over incidents throughout his life. We will examine the breadth of talent, achievement and personality of the “Greatest Briton”: soldier, politician, statesman, painter, writer, orator, family man – and bricklayer!
The Ladies of Blenheim Palace
– led by John Forster
A fascinating and entertaining look at the ladies of the Marlborough/Churchill family usually overlooked in favour of the men. The story of the Marlborough/Churchill family at Blenheim has normally been told entirely through the men. Over three centuries the ladies have had little chance to catch the public eye. This talk and tour redresses the balance in an entertaining and informative way. They register the achievement of some, the thwarted talents and potential of others and the degrees of humour, eccentricity, pathos, interest and difficult circumstances of “The Ladies of Blenheim”
Blenheim Palace in WW2
- led by Karen Wiseman, Palace Historian
The Marlborough family, the Estate staff and the Palace itself played a full and energetic part in the war effort. This talk and tour will tell the story of how the Palace was prepared for the worst, survived the onslaught of 400 boys evacuated to Blenheim and kept the secrets of MI5. The talk will show how the Estate responded to the dig for victory campaign, the call to form a Home Guard, how the Duke and Duchess worked tirelessly for the war effort.
Domestic Service at Blenheim Palace
– led by Jeri Bapasola, Palace Historian & Author
Since 1719, when the 1st Duke and Duchess moved into their newly built house, Blenheim Palace has been continuously occupied by the Marlborough family. Through every generation, large numbers of staff were required to cater and provide for all their requirements. The previously unexplored 'downstairs' world of servants, their duties and the layout of the service wings will be explained in this fascinating tour accompanied by a short introductory talk, led by Jeri Bapasola, author of Household Matters: Domestic service at Blenheim Palace
The Victory Tapestries of John Churchill
- led by Jeri Bapasola, Palace Historian and Author
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, was the Greatest military commander of his age. In the early 18th century, he commissioned a unique set of tapestries to commemorate his famous victories at Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet. This talk and tour will explain how the tapestries were made as well as the wealth of detail in each panel, covering actual events that occured in the battles and the method of warfare at the time. Led by Jeri Bapasola, author of Threads of History: The tapestries at Blenheim Palace.
The House that John Built
– led by Jeri Bapasola
John Vanburgh, the architect and his assistant Nicholas Hawksmoor were both at Blenheim when the foundation stone was laid in 1705. Why then did the house take more than 25 years to be completed? This slide illustrated talk and tour will reveal the fascinating story of the building of this grand house for one of England’s greatest military leaders, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and his unforgettable wife, Sarah.
Details and booking procedure
Each day begins at 10.30am with coffee and biscuits in the Palace’s Indian Room. The talk commences at 11am, followed by a tour of the Palace at 11.30am led by the specialist. The tour finishes at 12.30pm and you are free to spend the rest of the day in the Palace and grounds.
Please contact the Groups’ Co-ordinator on 01993 811091 to book or email operations@blenheimpalace.com for further information.
Tour details, booking and prices
Group rates from 16th February to 20th March 2008 are:
Adults pp £12.50
Seniors pp £11.50
Booking information:
25 places available are available on each tour.
Tours must be pre-booked and pre-paid through the Groups’ co-ordinator (non-refundable).
The price includes full day entry to the Palace, Park and gardens, special talk, tour and morning refreshment.