Blenheim Palace

Woodstock, Oxfordshire

28th February 2016                                                    Photos by Hetty

Blenheim Palace website– a member of Historic Houses Association

John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, led the victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704, against France. As a reward he was granted a park and ruined Royal Manor at Woodstock (where Elizabeth I, before her succession, was imprisoned by her half-sister Mary I). Parliament granted him money to build a house.

1764 – 1774 Capability Brown redesigned the parkland, removed the formal garden, and created a lake

Sir Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace in 1874 – he arrived 2 months early at his grandparents house.

Our first view of this huge palace. The east gate is also the water tower

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The clock tower

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The east and west wings on each side of the Great Court, on the north side of the palace.

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In the Great Court is the entrance to the Great Hall

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The southern façadeS1050087 copywith a marble bust of Louis XIV, looted by Marlborough from France in 1709, above the portico

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In the secret garden

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South and east façades

S1050104 copy The Italian garden, by the orangery, was created 1900-1910

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S1050109 copy1925-30 the water terraces were built, and the fountains added later

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One of the faces of these statues was modelled on a palace gardener

S1050120 copyThis sphinx’s face was modelled on the 9th Duke of Marlborough’s second wife

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Inside the great hall, which is 67 ft (20m) high

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The state apartments have lovely ceilings

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Someone was playing the massive organ in the long library, which is 180 ft (55 m) long

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In the chapel is a huge monument to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough

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We didn’t see everything, so we’ll have to go back another day.

All images on the website copyright of HettyHikes.co.uk

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