Blenheim Palace

Wednesday was our last day with the Tennessee Meneelys visiting , and unfortunately it was a soggy one. We had postponed our trip to Blenheim Palace from Sunday, hoping for better weather, but it was not to be. In fact, over 2" of rain fell that day-- more than Oxford usually gets for the entire month of July-- and we believe it!

Ray, Claire and Linda at Blenheim

Blenheim Palace is about 8 miles north of Oxford, the home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough. It was built in the first quarter of the 18th century, as a "thank you" gift to John Churchill (the 1st Duke of Marlborough) for a job well-done in the battle of Blenheim in Bavaria. In more recent years, its claim to fame is that it is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and served as a location for scenes from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. (Not being Harry Potter fans, we are a little weary of Harry popping up everywhere in these regions.... but if you are a fan, Oxford is a treasure trove of Potterism).

We weren't allowed to take photos of the inside of the palace, but if you click on the link above, there are some pictures on wikipedia that will give you an idea of what it looks like. We ventured out in the rain to look at the gardens, but it was difficult to appreciate their beauty-- we'll have to go back when the sun returns. We did stop in the butterfly house and the Marlborough Maze-- a hedge maze. After getting fueled with hot coffee to warm up-- we headed home.




For one last meal together we chose Qumin, a Indian restaurant recommended by Philip's editor at Oxford University Press. It was a great way to end a week with family exploring southern England!