Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is a large and monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. It is the only non episcopal country house, in England, to hold the title "palace". The Palace, one of England's greatest houses in every sense of the word, was built between 1705 and circa 1722. Its construction was originally intended to be a gift to the 1st Duke of Marlborough from a grateful nation in return for military triumph against the French. However, it soon became the subject of political infighting which led to Marlborough's exile, the fall from power of his Duchess, and the irreparable damage to the reputation of the architect Sir John Vanbrugh. Designed in the rare, and short lived, English baroque style, architectural appreciation of the palace is as divided today as it was in the 1720s. {{fn|1}} It is unique in its combined usage as a family home, mausoleum and national monument.

Blenheim today

The palace today remains today essentially the home of the Dukes of Marlborough, (the present incumbent of the title being John George Vanderbilt Henry 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 today open to the public, and contains tourist attractions in the grounds, but the atmosphere is still that of a large country house. The diversifications from home to business, essential to the palace's survival in the 21st century include commercial concerns such as a maze, adventure playground, mini-train and gift shops, a butterfly house, fishing, and even the bottling of a branded mineral water. Concerts and festivals are also staged in the palace and park. Whilst the Duke retains final control over all matters in the running of the palace, day-to-day control of commercial aspects are out-sourced to Sodexho Prestige, a division of Sodexho.

Related Topics:
21st century - Sodexho

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Inside the state apartments, the guests are more likely to be those of a large company enjoying corporate hospitality, or those of a couple who have paid to marry at the palace, than the guests of the Spencer-Churchills. However, the ducal family still entertain in the state rooms, and dine on special occasions in the saloon, around the great silver centrepiece depicting the 1st Duke of Marlborough on horse back, that same piece that Consuelo Vanderbilt, a mere hundred years ago, liked to call the "caché mari" (sic) because during Edwardian dinner parties it conveniently hid her detested husband, across the table, from her view. The many residents of Blenheim have each left their mark on the palace. Today it is as likely to be the set for a film, as a royal house party; yet it still hosts both. Blenheim Palace remains the tribute to the 1st Duke which both his wife and the architect Sir John Vanbrugh envisaged.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~