Blenheim Palace is marking the 300th anniversary of the death of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, with a series of interactive displays and events to appeal to visitors of all ages. From 15 April to 19 June, the Battlefields and Baroque exhibition will tell the story of the Duke through an immersive exhibition, talks and tours, a battle re-enactment, concert, themed activities and events.
A courageous leader in battle, Marlborough’s victories over Louis XIV forever changed the face of Europe and led to Sir Winston Churchill, his ancestor who was born at Blenheim, to describe him as Britain’s greatest ever general. Blenheim Palace is a monument to his great military achievements and was built for him as a reward from Queen Anne and a grateful nation for his stunning military successes.
Visitors can step back in time to the Palace of the 1700s and marvel at the exquisite clothing, food, games and music that the Duke and his Duchess would have loved, and wander through the Palace state rooms to be greeted by the 1st Duke himself, his wife Sarah, or listen to the servants’ below-stairs gossip.
Also on display will be costumes from the movie The Favourite, by Oscar-winning designer Sandy Powell. In the film the role of Sarah was played by Rachel Weisz and the 1st Duke by Mark Gatiss.
There will be displays of 18th century armour, music and instruments, the recreation of a court feast of the time and a fascinating collection of unique maps, documents and artefacts from the Blenheim archive, many of them on public display for the first time.
The 1st Duke is a fascinating, but often overlooked, historical figure. At a time when marriages were no more than business transactions to increase power and wealth, John Churchill chose to marry for love. After a less than illustrious beginning, he was once imprisoned in the Tower of London, and with the help of his extraordinary, strong-willed wife Sarah, he rose to dizzy heights in the court of Queen Anne, only to be plotted and schemed against and eventually exiled abroad, until a change of monarch made it safe for him to return to his homeland.
For more information visit www.blenheimpalace.com.
