Blenheim: Behind the Grandeur

Episode One:
In episode one, we meet apprentice George who is opening the Palace, but he isn’t alone – as overnight there has been an intruder – a pigeon has found its way in and the Palace team, led by Kate, are trying to get it out, before the coaches of visitors arrive.

The kitchen team are busy preparing hundreds of meals for their 4 eateries and head of catering, Jack, goes to their own kitchen garden to discuss the latest produce they can expect to receive with vegetable gardener, Harrison. Meanwhile, the events team led by Natalie and Julian, are preparing for Nocturne, a series of music concerts which take place in the Palace’s Great Court, but there is concern the vibrations from the concert threaten the priceless china collection in the Palace. Blenheim is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and this year the Palace is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the event. The catering team have devised a celebration afternoon tea and the guests have a surprise in store when Churchill lookalike Winstan pops by.

Episode Two:
Its lambing season at Blenheim, and head shepherd Shaun is monitoring the 1500 lambs due to be born. Most sheep lamb in the field without problems, but on a 4am round, Shaun has to intervene in a difficult birth.

Meanwhile back at the Palace, social historian Antonia is preparing the mice to hide around the Palace. It a trail they provide for school groups and a unique way of engaging young people in the history of Blenheim. One element of Blenheim history which still has importance today, is how they pay their rent to the Crown, who own the land that the Palace is built on. Keeper of Palace and Collections, Kate, gets the unusual payment ready for a trip to Windsor Castle. Meanwhile, collections apprentice George, is set the task of cleaning some of the 10,000 books in the Long Library, a space once used as a hospital for wounded military and an evacuation centre for a boys school. The events team are busy hosting the 20th anniversary of the annual Blenheim triathlon which covers much of the estate, as we follow three newbies to triathlon who begin the day with a kit malfunction. On the far side of the estate, where the cycle route will pass, the forestry team are surveying the ancient trees, and head of conservation Filipe is especially fond of one in particular. But as well as conserving history, Blenheim are the most forward-thinking Palace in Europe, using innovation to make all departments more efficient and sustainable and in a partnership with Oxford Robotics, Spot the robot dog is mapping the palace to help the Palace conservation team, much to the delight of guests.

Episode Three:
The events team have a busy weekend ahead as the Knights of Middle England arrive to perform at the jousting event held on the South Lawn, but this year they have an extra treat for guests, a medieval village showcasing ancient crafts and warfare and one of the duelling knights is Blenheim’s own, property manager, Ken.

Meanwhile in the Palace, the guides are getting into costume to create living re-enactments in the house and gardens, and Sylvan, a guide for the past decade, has the honor of opening the historic front door, carved from wood from the Blenheim forest. The guest services team set off to the Cascades waterfall to recce locations for a bespoke tour for guests which will show guests an additional side to the Blenheim experience but just they arrive the wheels literally come off their plan. Back at the jousting tournament the hot weather is causing a drama for catering and at Park Farm at the mineral water bottling plant, manager Trevor is having a nightmare. Back in the middle ages, Woodstock Manor stood across the grand bridge and head of Built Heritage Kelly, takes apprentice Aimee to the original site to teach her about the lake dredge and bridge survey. Keeper of the Palace Kate is excited to receive some paintings by Churchill and pistols originally belonging to the 1st Duke of Marlborough and textile conservator Emma is called in to reduce the risk of damage to the ancient tapestries. The day ends in the Great Court with the 80th celebration of D day and the lighting of the torch by the current Duke.

Episode Four:
Friday breakfast is a weekly tradition which brings all the Blenheim staff together, and with each department taking their turn to serve the others, the task this week has fallen to the HR team.

The historic clocks at Blenheim come in for some servicing from master clockmaker John, and deputy events manager Julian is up the bell tower. In the shop, head of retail, Judy, is hoping their new range of bespoke-designed estate merchandise will arrive before the flower show and the events team have the food festival and the flower show to host, but with changeable weather conditions, there are some big challenges to overcome. Palace host Ian takes some visitors on a magical mystery tour around the grounds, and Keeper of Palace, Kate, looks forward to the return of a priceless sculpture. Finally, the roof restoration project is a hot topic at Blenheim, as years of preparation and fund-raising is finally going to be realized. Leaks are threatening the artworks and the structure of the building, so wall-walkers visit Blenheim to survey. The project, set to start in January 2025, will allow the public a different view of the Palace from on high and allow the Blenheim legacy to live on for another 300 years and beyond.