BLENHEIM HOUSE, the name of the seat of the Duke of Marlborough, in the parish of Woodstock and county of Oxford. The estate having been given by Queen Anne to Marlborough for his eminent services, Parlia ment granted the sum of half a million sterling to erect a suitable family seat. The building was entrusted to Sir John Vanbrugh, and called Blenheim, from the village where the Duke gained his great victory. In this park once stood the royal palace of Woodstock, where Alfred is said to have resided, and which was the favorite residence of Henry II, who erected a house in the park for his favorite mistress, Rosamond Clifford, whence the well-known legend of Woodstock-bower, Queen Eleanor, and the Fair Rosamond. Edward III was also much attached to this palace, in which his eld est son, the illustrious Black Prince, was born, as well as his youngest son, Thomas, Duke of Gloucester, usually called Thomas of Wood stock, from that event. Richard II likewise kept his court here, at which time the poet Chaucer resided at Woodstock, in a house which stood near the present entrance to the park. During the civil wars of the 17th cen tury it was for some time defended for the King; but it ultimately surrendered, and was much injured and dilapidated by the parlia mentarians. The usual approach to Blenheim from Woodstock is through a triumphal arch or portal. In front of the building stands a sculptured column 130 feet high, surmounted by a statue of the Duke, whose victories and achievements are recorded on tablets round the base. The front of the house measures 348 feet from wing to wing, and although archi tectural critics find many faults in detail, the general effect is in the highest degree noble and commanding. The interior is extremely magnificent; the hall, supported by Corinthian pillars, is 67 feet high; and the ceiling was painted by Sir James Thornhill, the design representing Victory crowning the Duke. The
gallery and bow-window room abound in por traits by the most eminent masters, both foreign and English. On the tapestry of the latter are figured the various battles gained by the same great general, and more especially that of Blen heim. The saloon, a noble and spacious apart ment, communicates with the hall, and occupies the entire breadth of the centre. The lower part is lined with marble, and six of its com partments are decorated with pictures by La Guerre, representing the inhabitants of the different nations of the world in appropriate costume. On the ceiling is a representation by the same artist, of the victorious Duke arrested in his career by Peace and Time. The remain ing principal subjects of admiration are the library, theatre, State drawing-room, blue and green drawing-room, grand cabinet, the din ing-room, etc. • In the chapel, which forms one of the wings, is a fine marble monument by Rysbrack, to the great Duke and his almost equally celebrated Duchess, Sarah. The gardens and grounds, which are exceedingly spacious, were laid out by Brown, who contrived to make a most admirable use of the small river Glyme in the formation of a lake, or piece of water, which is justly deemed one of the greatest beauties of the place. It is crossed by several arches, and at the middle or grand approach is a magnificent bridge, the span of the centre arch of which is 101 feet. Consult Taunt, 'Blenheim and Woodstock' (Oxford 1909).