Blenheim Palace, a large and monumental country house, is situated in Woodstock,
Oxfordshire, England. It is one of England’s largest houses and it was built
between 1705 and circa 1724. In 1987, it was recognized by UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The exquisite Baroque Palace was designed by John Vanbrugh, in a heavy Italo-Corinthian
style. This beautiful parkland with 2100 acres is surrounded by sweeping lawns,
formal gardens and the magnificent Lake. Also it contains Fair Rosamund’s Well,
near which stood her bower.
The Scale of the Palaces is beautifully balanced by the intricate detail and delicacy
of the carvings, the hand painted ceilings and the amazing porcelain collections,
tapestries and paintings displayed in each room. But the greater part of the art
treasures and curios were sold off in 1886, and the great library was collected
by Charles Spencer, Earl of Sunderland.
History
The construction of Blenheim Palace was a gift from the grateful nation to the first
Duke of Marlborough, in return for military triumph against the French and Bavarians
in 1704. With an English baroque style, the palace is unique in its combined usage
as a family home, mausoleum and national monument.
Blenheim Palace - Woodstock
John Churchill, during the War of the Spanish Succession gained military renown
and became a national hero and he was loaded with honors. Thus, Queen Anne gave
a great palace as a gift. In 1711, after a final quarrel, the money for the construction
of Blenheim ceased and the Marlboroughs were forced into exile abroad.
For the last 300
years, the palace has been home of the Churchill family. At the
end of the 19th century, the palace and the Churchills were saved from ruin by an
American marriage.
The 4th Duke makes major changes to Palace Park and Gardens. The 5th Duke, a horticulturalist,
developed extensive gardens. But these are now sadly lost except for the Rose Garden
which was recently restored by the present Duke. In particular the ladies have been
concerned for the needy, the 4th Duchess built the almshouses in Woodstock and the
wife of the 7th Duke worked tirelessly to help the starving in Ïreland and built
the school in Bladon. The 8th Duke was an innovator; he introduced gas, electricity
and central heating to the Palace. The 9th Duke made a greatest impact on Blenheim
who created the formal gardens to east and west of the Palace; also he restores
of the Great Court and replanted the entrance avenue and the Grand Avenue. Also
he was responsible for a complete redecoration of the State Rooms. He also added
extensively to the collection at Blenheim particularly the furniture. In the twentieth century during the both World Wars the dukes allowed Blenheim to be used in various
ways for the war effort. The present Duke has committed his life to the preservation
of this great house and it was during his time at Blenheim that the Palace became
a World Heritage Site.
The plan of Blenheim Palace is basically that of a large central rectangular block,
containing behind the southern facade the principal state apartments. On the east
side are the suites of private apartments of the Duke and Duchess, on the west along the entire length is the long gallery originally conceived as a picture gallery.
The central block is flanked by two further service blocks around square courtyards.
The east court contains the kitchens, laundry, and
other domestic offices, the west
court adjacent to the chapel the stables and indoor riding school. The
three blocks
together form the "Great Court" designed to overpower the visitor arriving at the
palace. Vanbrugh creates a monumental effect used great masses of stone to imitate
strength and create shadow as decoration.
The internal layout of the rooms of the central block at Blenheim was defined by
the court etiquette of the day. State apartments were designed as an axis of rooms
of increasing importance and public use, leading to the chief room. The larger houses,
like Blenheim, had two sets of state apartments each mirroring each other. The grandest
and most public and important was the central saloon which served as the communal
state dining room. Either side of the saloon are suites of state apartments, decreasing
in importance but increasing in privacy which were intended only for use by the
most important guests such as a visiting sovereign.
The palace was furnished with the many valuable artefacts the Duke had been given,
or sequestered as the spoils of war, including a fine art collection.
The palace today remains the home of the Dukes of Marlborough — the present incumbent
of the title being John George Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough.
Like his forebears he lives for part of the year in the palace, with his family
occupying the same suite of rooms as the 1st Duke and Duchess.
The palace is open to the public, and contains tourist attractions in the grounds,
but the atmosphere is still that of a large country house. The progression from
home to business has been essential to the palace's survival in the 20th and 21st
centuries. Varied commercial concerns include a maze, adventure playground, mini-train,
gift shops, butterfly house, fishing, and even bottles of Blenheim Natural Mineral
Water. Concerts and festivals are also staged in the palace and park.