Blenheim Palace
Premier World Heritage Site
The magnificent Baroque architecture of Blenheim Palace was designed by the architect, Sir John Vanbrugh. He worked on the building for the best part of twenty years, and the palace is recognised today as one of the finest examples of this style of architecture.
‘As we passed through the entrance archway and the lovely scenery burst upon me’, wrote Lady Randolph Churchill on her first visit to Blenheim, ‘Randolph said with pardonable pride, “This is the finest view in England.” Looking at the lake, the bridge, the miles of magnificent park studded with old oaks . . . and the huge and stately palace, I confess I felt awed. But my American pride forbade the admission.’
Lady Randolph Churchill is one of many to have been struck with awe upon their first sight of Blenheim Palace. Set in the heart of the English countryside – at the pretty village of Woodstock, in Oxfordshire – Blenheim is one of Britain’s thirteen World Heritage Sites, and arguably the greatest. Indeed it is the view of the lake and its surrounding beauty that inspired Turner: the same also that caused George III to exclaim, ‘We have nothing to equal this!’
Queen Anne gave the Royal Manor of Woodstock to the 1st Duke of Marlborough, as a reward for his services in the great battle of Blenheim. Blenheim Palace was begun in 1705, by the architect John Vanbrugh, assisted by Hawksmoor. Vanbrugh had already proved his ability with his masterly designs for Greenwich Hospital and Castle Howard, in London and northern England respectively. He completed his work at Blenheim between the years 1705 and 1722. After this, work on Blenheim ceased due to considerable wrangling over who would pay the initial expenses incurred.
The duke himself decided to finish the palace at his own expense, keeping Vanbrugh and Hawksmoor as before. Work continued, with some changes in personnel, and various aspects of Blenheim were added and completed throughout the 1700s.
One of the many stunning aspects of Blenheim is the lake and parks. They were initially designed by Queen Anne’s gardener, Henry Wise, in the style of Vaux-de-Vicomte and Versailles in France. But taste changed in the mid-eighteenth century, and the foremost English master of garden design, ‘Capability’ Brown, was asked to redesign the grounds in his pastoral style of informal landscapes of woods, lawns and waterways.
Sir Winston Churchill, one of Britain’s greatest leaders, was born at Blenheim in 1874. His father, Randolph Churchill was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough.
Today, Blenheim still captivates the thousands of visitors to its house and grounds each year. Enthralled by the Baroque architecture, the exquisite gardens and lake of ‘Capability’ Brown, and the sense of history and achievement surrounding the palace, they would perhaps agree in naming it ‘the premier World Heritage Site’.
By Michael David