Moreton-in-Marsh-Blenheim Palace

It was cloudy with rainy periods and we walked 15 minutes to the train station and went 30 minute train ride to Oxford. Then we caught a bus for a 30 minute ride to Woodstock and Blenheim Palace. On the bus we sat beside someone who had lived in Oxford all his life and had worked at Blenheim Palace who pointed out sights of interest in Oxford and information about the Palace.

Blenheim Palace
John Churchill, first Duke of Marlbourgh, beat the French at the battle of Blenheim in 1704. The king built him this home, one of the finest Baroque buildings in England with 2000 acre’s of land. The land was designed by “Capability” Brown, including a lake.

Private Apartments
My favorite tour was the tour of the private apartments of the present Duke of Marlbourgh. The apartments are on a side wing of the Palace and you enter down a few stairs like you are entering a basement. When you enter you are in a hallway with lots of antiques, paintings and porcelains. Then there is a cosy sitting room and a billiard room. There is a room with all the different types of dinnerware that have been collected over the years and this room looks out to a private formal garden with fountains. Then we saw the cold room for the flowers and a room with bells that are connected to all the rooms that were used to summon servants (not used anymore). Then we went upstairs to the room used for before dinner drinks and there is a guest book with names like Princess Diana and Prince Charles. There is a formal dining room and sitting room (had a flat screen TV not as big as my daughters have, of course there is not much selection in TV stations to watch anyway). It was so interesting seeing a historic place where someone actually lives.






Untold Mystery
This is a tour goes through various rooms and tells the story of the family of 300 years through a ghost Grace Ridley, cherished maid of the first Duchess of Marlbourgh (uses lots of technical devices). This was quite entertaining and educational.

Churchill Exhibit
There were lots of interesting pictures and memorabilia of Sir Churchill. There was a collection of Christmas cards sent to his mother that were beautiful works of art. There is a suite of rooms, including the bed where Churchill was born (while his mother was attending a party at the Palace).

State Rooms
We did a guided tour of the State rooms with paintings, historic tapestries, porcelains and antiques. There is a beautiful chapel.

We took a small train ride through the grounds to the Pleasure gardens but did not have time to go through the gardens. We walked to the bus depot and took bus back to Oxford and crowded train back to Moreton-in-Marsh. We had a mediocre meal in a pub before walking back to B & B very tired.