Throughout history and across the world, estates and manors have been erected, inhabited then abandoned or neglected. Even in modern times, the British nobility occupy what is deemed as the most noteworthy estates. At a distance of 70 miles west of London, Highclere set the standard for others to follow beginning from the 12th Century onward. Nearly 75 miles north of London, Althorp follows in this tradition through its inception in the 16th Century continuously to the present day. During the same timeframe, another prominent structure known as Chatsworth stood for five centuries. Unlike Highclere and Althorp, Chatsworth is situated nearly 160 miles north of London.
Most of the estates that persevered through the centuries started as nothing more than monastery land. Those lands became the roots for the palaces and castles of Earls and Dukes. The earliest estate was Highclere mansion owned by the Carnarvon family. This mansion was home to the Fifth Earl of Carnarvon who led the expedition that discovered the Egyptian tomb of King Tutankhamun.
Another vital contribution by an estate originated at the ancestral home of the Spencer family. The estate with the most memorable resident being Althorp where Princess Diana was raised and which serves to commemorate her indomitable legacy. The late Princess of Wales became the mother of the future King of England and a symbol of hope for an entire world of impoverished lives. Her tomb rests on an island surrounded by a bucolic yard, paying homage to the Motte-and-Bailey concept of watery perimeter obstruction combined with an elevated military fortification of antiquity.
The majority of estates have nurtured a cloistered, if not, secluded environment for family and acquaintances alike. In spite of that, these places have garnered the attention of guests who visit and admire the stately accommodations of the international elite, not to mention the expansive countryside. Coincidently, the younger sister of an American president befriended the Duke of Devonshire during a diplomatic stay in England. The ensuing courtship ended tragically when the future Duke was killed while serving in the war. Sadly, Kathleen Kennedy lost her life in an airplane crash only a month after wedding the heir to the Duke of Chatsworth.
These British manors have been sanctuaries to their respective family. Admittedly enough, sanctuaries with sizeable real estate: Highclere includes 5,000 acres, Althorp occupies 14,500 acres, and Chatsworth boasts a modest assortment of plots totaling 35,000 acres. Currently, the manors are open to the public as a centerpiece of national heritage and historic intrigue. Where Earls and Dukes once concerned themselves with gaming, gardening, and gallivanting, the public now indulge to park and museum tours. Others have touched countless more lives on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean as the setting for the televised drama that audiences know as, Downton Abbey.
The next commanding residence is located 65 miles northeast of London and is recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage site. It being the only one that bears the title of “Palace” and one that was erected in early 1700s. It has been the source of Machiavellian political infighting by Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. The architectural design is attributed to English baroque style by the architect Sir John Vanbrugh, an undertaking which maligned his reputation. The structure contains a mausoleum along with an expansive library and is regarded as a national monument for many other reasons. As the birthplace and ancestral home of Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, it has been exclusively occupied by the Churchill family for over 300 years. At the end of the 19th century, the palace and the Churchills were spared from financial ruin by entering into an American marriage.
The palace grounds are open to the public on an entry fee basis, but there is also free access to about five miles of the ‘Great Park’. The tourist attractions include a butterfly house, playground, gift shops, fishing and a cafeteria. The palace is linked to the ‘Pleasure Park’ by a free railway service, the Blenheim Park Railway. In spite of the bustle, the atmosphere is still that of a large country house nestled in a pastoral setting. The progression into business has been essential to palace survival in the 20th and 21st centuries. This is none more evident than with the Blenheim Natural Mineral Water commercial venture. This mineral water is bottled on the premises and is sold to a niche market. The estate is also within sight of the Column of Victory and welcomes concert and festival audiences inside the palace and across the field.
While the Duke has ultimate say over all matters pertaining to palace operation, the managerial aspects are left to the discretion of Sodexho Prestige. This firm oversees gaming, farming and renting as part of the Blenheim Palace portfolio. An arrangement that ensures exceptional service when guests are part of a large company gathering, or privy to a formal wedding ceremony within the palace, rather than aristocratic acquaintances of the Spencer-Churchills. However, the Ducal family still entertain in the state rooms and dine in the saloon during high profile or celebrity functions. In fact, the palace caters to more than just the average individual. Many film studios have enacted screenplays at Blenheim Palace, among them: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, Gulliver’s Travels, Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh version), as well as period dramas—The Lost Prince and Orlando. The versatility of the residence is evident in the status of the clientele or the urgency of the agenda. On the first day of a visit to the United Kingdom, US President Donald Trump enjoyed a bagpipe performance followed by dinner at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. The mid-2018 event was hosted by Prime Minister Theresa May amid an array of dignitaries in business and parliament.
To this day, the Dukes of Marlborough routinely call Blenheim Palace their home. At various times of the year, the 11th Duke of Marlborough resides in the palace, with other relatives occupying the same suite of rooms as the 1st Duke and Duchess.
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