Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is one of Englands largest monumental country houses located in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. It is the only non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title "palace"

History

Blenheim Palace was built between 1705 and circa 1722. It was originally intended to be a gift to John Churchill-the 1st Duke of Marlborough, however it soon became the subject of political infighting. It was designed in the English Baroque style and is unique in its combined usage as a family home, mausoleum, and national monument. The palace is also known for the birth place of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. It was designed by the untrained architect, Sir John Vanbrugh, who designed it to be viewed from a distance. Standing up close the facade is said to look daunting or weighed down too much by ornamentation and stone. Blenheim sits at the center of a large park that the Glyme River flows through, making for lovely scenery and grounds. 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 still has the atmosphere 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.