Blenheim Palace - Home

The last picture page of our Summer holiday 2014. Pictures from Blenheim Palace (only a few, as the ticket claimed photography is prohibited so we didn't take DSLR's with us and my phone ran out of battery) and our homeward journey.
The Column of Victory The Column of Victory is 41 m high and terminates a great avenue of elms leading to the palace, which were planted in the positions of Marlborough's troops at the Battle of Blenheim. : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Blenheim Palace East gate : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Blenheim Palace Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. It is the principal residence of the dukes of Marlborough, and the only non-royal non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace, one of England's largest houses, was built between 1705 and circa 1722. Blenheim Palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The building of the palace was originally intended to be a reward to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, from a grateful nation for the duke's military triumphs against the French and Bavarians during the War of the Spanish Succession, culminating in the 1704 Battle of Blenheim. However, soon after its construction began, the palace was to become the subject of political infighting; this led to Marlborough's exile, the fall from power of his duchess, and lasting damage to the reputation of the architect Sir John Vanbrugh. : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Blenheim Palace Nice key : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel
Blenheim Palace The Great Hall This magnificent room stretches up 67 feet to the painted ceiling by James Thornhill, depicting the first Duke of Marlborough presenting his battle plans to Britannia. : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Blenheim Palace The Grand Saloon has intricate work on the walls and ceiling and beautifully designed black and white flooring. The progress of the First Duke after the victory has been carved beautifully on a silver centrepiece. The present Duke and his family still use the saloon once a year on the Christmas day, when it is closed to public. : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Blenheim Palace The Grand Saloon has intricate work on the walls and ceiling and beautifully designed black and white flooring. The dining table is laid out with spotless table linen, well polished crockery and candle stands. The progress of the First Duke after the victory has been carved beautifully on a silver centrepiece. The present Duke and his family still use the saloon once a year on the Christmas day, when it is closed to public. : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Blenheim Palace The First State Room. The 1st Duke commissioned a series of 11 tapestries, from the Belgian weaver deVos, to commemorate his 18th century military successes. Among those displayed in this room are: The Donauworth tapestry, showing Marborough's forces preparing to attack the fortress and walled city. The Battle of Malplaquet The crossing the Lines of Brabant The Siege of Lille. Above the fireplace is a portrait of Consuelo Vanderbilt, the American 1st wife of the 9th Duke. It was, likely, Vanderbilt money that helped to restore the ornate ceiling of this room. It is decorated with 9 carat gold and is copied from a ceiling in Versaille. : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel
Blenheim Palace The First State Room. The ornate, gilt cradle in which Duchess Consuelo rocked her two sons, one of whom became the 10th Duke. : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Blenheim Palace The First State Room. Very ornate clock : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Blenheim Palace The Second State Room. Tapestries on the walls represent the Duke of Marlborough's siege of Bouchain. Portrait of Louis XIV hangs above the fireplace. : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Blenheim Palace The ceiling of the Long Library : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel
Blenheim Palace The Water Terraces Blenheim Palace’s beautiful Water Terraces were constructed between 1925 and 1930. A feat of planning, the terraces are reminiscent, on a smaller scale, of the Parterre d’Eau at Versailles. On the lowest terrace stands the scale model made by Bernini for his famous fountain in the Piazza Navona in Rome. The narrow second terrace, meanwhile, is divided from the third by shallow steps guarded by two sphinxes. Look closely and you will notice the head of each sphinx is that of Gladys Deacon - second wife of the 9th Duke. Up the slope from the lower water terrace lies The Arboretum, which winds past the Temple of Diana. The temple was built for the 4th Duke by Sir William Chambers and it was here, during the summer of 1908, that Sir Winston Churchill proposed to Miss Clementine Hozier. : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Blenheim Palace The Water Terraces Blenheim Palace’s beautiful Water Terraces were constructed between 1925 and 1930. A feat of planning, the terraces are reminiscent, on a smaller scale, of the Parterre d’Eau at Versailles. On the lowest terrace stands the scale model made by Bernini for his famous fountain in the Piazza Navona in Rome. The narrow second terrace, meanwhile, is divided from the third by shallow steps guarded by two sphinxes. Look closely and you will notice the head of each sphinx is that of Gladys Deacon - second wife of the 9th Duke. Up the slope from the lower water terrace lies The Arboretum, which winds past the Temple of Diana. The temple was built for the 4th Duke by Sir William Chambers and it was here, during the summer of 1908, that Sir Winston Churchill proposed to Miss Clementine Hozier. : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Blenheim Palace The Water Terraces Blenheim Palace’s beautiful Water Terraces were constructed between 1925 and 1930. A feat of planning, the terraces are reminiscent, on a smaller scale, of the Parterre d’Eau at Versailles. On the lowest terrace stands the scale model made by Bernini for his famous fountain in the Piazza Navona in Rome. The narrow second terrace, meanwhile, is divided from the third by shallow steps guarded by two sphinxes. Look closely and you will notice the head of each sphinx is that of Gladys Deacon - second wife of the 9th Duke. Up the slope from the lower water terrace lies The Arboretum, which winds past the Temple of Diana. The temple was built for the 4th Duke by Sir William Chambers and it was here, during the summer of 1908, that Sir Winston Churchill proposed to Miss Clementine Hozier. : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Blenheim Palace The Water Terraces Blenheim Palace’s beautiful Water Terraces were constructed between 1925 and 1930. A feat of planning, the terraces are reminiscent, on a smaller scale, of the Parterre d’Eau at Versailles. On the lowest terrace stands the scale model made by Bernini for his famous fountain in the Piazza Navona in Rome. The narrow second terrace, meanwhile, is divided from the third by shallow steps guarded by two sphinxes. Look closely and you will notice the head of each sphinx is that of Gladys Deacon - second wife of the 9th Duke. Up the slope from the lower water terrace lies The Arboretum, which winds past the Temple of Diana. The temple was built for the 4th Duke by Sir William Chambers and it was here, during the summer of 1908, that Sir Winston Churchill proposed to Miss Clementine Hozier. : 2014, Blenheim Palace, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, Oxfordshire, Woodstock, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel
M25/A3113 jam Traffic jam at junction 14 on M25 : 2014, England, Englanti, Nokia Pureview 808, historia, history, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Harmo Harmo waiting to board the ship in Dover : 2014, Nokia Pureview 808, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Leaving Boat leaving Dover harbour : 2014, Dover, England, Englanti, G12, harbour, kesäloma, maisema, matka, satama, scenery, summer holiday, travel Last glimpse White cliffs of Dover seen last time for this Summer. Maybe in 2015 we'll meet again :). : 2014, Dover, England, Englanti, G12, harbour, kesäloma, maisema, matka, satama, scenery, summer holiday, travel
Arriving at Dunkirk Boat sliding into Dunkirk harbour : 2014, Nokia Pureview 808, kesäloma, matka, summer holiday, travel Faster On a horse you'd already be there : 2014, Nokia Pureview 808, kesäloma, matka, road, summer holiday, tie, travel Harmo Little Harmo wishing to be with it's fellow horses : 2014, Nokia Pureview 808, kesäloma, matka, road, summer holiday, tie, travel Sprogø Fyr The lighthouse was built by the mail service in 1868, replacing an older structure from 1809. This lighthouse was closed in 1980. This was also the site of a royal castle in the Middle Ages that could keep watch over the water between Zealand and Funen. The castle was built by King Valdemar the Great in the 12th century and is named directly in an inscription on his grave. : 2014, Nokia Pureview 808, kesäloma, matka, road, summer holiday, tie, travel
Öresunsbron Öresund bridge seen from the Danish side, approaching Sweden. : 2014, Nokia Pureview 808, kesäloma, matka, road, summer holiday, tie, travel Harmo waiting Harmo queuing in line for boarding : 2014, Nokia Pureview 808, homecoming, kesäloma, kotiinpaluu, matka, summer holiday, travel Red, white and blue Nice colour combos on Viking Line's side : 2014, Nokia Pureview 808, homecoming, kesäloma, kotiinpaluu, matka, summer holiday, travel Red and white Trying to capture nice colour combinations while waiting to board the ship in Stockholm. : 2014, Nokia Pureview 808, homecoming, kesäloma, kotiinpaluu, matka, summer holiday, travel
Back home Stuff carried from Harmo up to my foyer waiting for sorting and putting back into their correct places. Awful lot again. : 2014, Nokia Pureview 808, homecoming, kesäloma, kotiinpaluu, matka, summer holiday, travel