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Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is the result of the military successes of John Churchill, the First Duke of Marlborough. Churchill directed a series of victories during the War of Spanish Succession, early in the eighteenth century. This war came about when Charles the Second of Spain died, and the Spanish throne was inherited by Philip of Anjou, the grandson of the French king Louis the Fourteenth. The possibility of the grandson of a French king ruling Spain raised the threat of a combination of the strength of France and Spain. This was threatening to Britain. A further problem was Philip's recognition of the son of the deposed Catholic King James the Second as the legitimate heir to the English throne. James the Second had been deposed in 1688, and Parliament had replaced him with the Protestant William of Orange. Parliament had no intention of having the Catholic Staurt line reinstated.

John Churchill, a fairly ordinary member of the gentry became Britain's leading commander in the War of the Spanish Succession. He led victories at Blenheim in 1704, Ramilies in 1706, Oudenarde in 1708, and Malplaquet in 1709. As a gesture of gratitude Parliament decided that John Churchill would be rewarded with his own palace. This is the only non-royal building to be termed a "palace", and reflects the huge power that Churchill enjoyed at this time.

The state was to fund the building of the palace, or at least that was the original plan. In reality funds were sporadic, and became more so when Queen Anne and John's wife, Sarah fell out. Sarah Churchill seemed famous for her difficult personality. She alienated both Queen Anne, and her architect John Vanbrugh. Problems became so bad that the Churchill couple were eventually banished from the country. They returned the day after Queen Anne's death in 1714.

Work restarted on Blenheim Palace in 1716, the cantankerous Sarah taking full responsibility for the project following John Churchill's stroke in 1717. Arguments with Vanbrugh eventually led to him being banned from the site, and work was left to his assistant Nicholas Hawksmoor. After a huge amount of arguing, over wages, and the quality of building work, Blenheim Palace was finally finished in 1722, the year of John Churchill's death. The grounds were landscaped by Capability Brown, hired by the fourth Duke of Marlborough in 1764.

Blenheim Palace remains the property of the Churchill family, and was the childhood home of Winston Churchill, Britain's Prime Minister during the Second World War.

Visiting Blenheim Palace today I was suitably amazed by the magnificence of the building and the beauty of the grounds. There are displays relating to John and Winston Churchill, but the real tale of the palace does not really get told. It is only natural that the unfortunate details are glossed over, but the idea of Sarah Churchill trying to keep up appearances, by failing to tell Vanbrugh about the true nature of her financial problems makes the whole monumental place more human.

Palace tours are available throughout the day. A train service runs between the house and the Pleasure Gardens, where there is a maze, a children's playground and a butterfly house.

 

Opening Times: The park remains open all year from 9am to dusk except Christmas Day. The palace and gardens open on the 16th February 2008 until 14th December daily until 5th November and from 5th November to 14th December from Wednesday to Sunday. Opening hours are 10.30am - 5.30pm, last admission being 4.45pm.

Directions: Blenheim is eight miles north of Oxford on the A44, in the beautiful Cotswold village of Woodstock. It is a designated World Heritage Site. Click here for an interactive road and satellite map centred on Blenheim Palace.

Access: Wheelchair access is good throughout.

Contact:

phone: 08700 602080

web site: www.blenheimpalace.com

 

 

Gardens, landscaped by Capability Brown.