Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, the seat of the dukes of Marlborough and one of the most imposing country houses in England. It was presented to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, by Queen Anne as a token of the nation’s gratitude after his crushing defeat of the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.

The palace was constructed as a national monument as much as a private residence. The designs, a striking example of the Baroque style, were prepared by Sir John Vanbrugh, assisted by Nicholas Hawksmoor, and work began in 1705. The shell of the house was largely complete by 1712, when the duke and duchess, having fallen from royal favour, went into exile for two years. Work recommenced in 1716, although Vanbrugh was soon dismissed as architect.

The palace is arranged around a great court, with stables and kitchen flanking the house itself. The most imposing interior is that of the great hall, with carvings by Grinling Gibbons. The saloon was magnificently decorated by Louis Laguerre in 1719-1720. The library (55 m/180 ft long) was decorated after 1722 by Hawksmoor. A grandiose chapel contains a huge monument to the 1st Duke of Marlborough. The park was recast by Capability Brown in 1764-1774 and contains the famous bridge designed by Vanbrugh. The Blenheim complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.