Blenheim Palace was built, as a gift from the nation, for John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough, to mark his military success in the War of the Spanish Succession. The Palace, designed by John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor, is a wonderful example of English Baroque architecture, and it contains many portraits of figures that we study.

We usually visit in May, at the end of the module. The morning is spent on a guided tour of the Palace, led by a specialist on our period, and we spend the afternoon having a revision session - either outside in the grounds if the weather is fine or in the education room if not.

 

There is a historical treatment of the architectural development of the palace at http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol12/pp448-460

You will find an interesting article about Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough at https://www.bl.uk/eblj/1982articles/pdf/article2.pdf

The Palace is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site