ORA students studying at SPC took a break from their intensive series of lessons and visited the breathtakingly beautiful Blenheim Palace.
Blenheim Palace
The 18th century Blenheim Palace captivated students at SPC this week. Their excursion took them all around this world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site and gave them the chance to explore its fascinating history.
The Battle of Blenheim (1704) was a significant turning point in the Wars of the Spanish Succession. Preventing the collapse of the Grand Alliance, the victorious leader of the battle, John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough, was gifted land, a manor and £240,000 to construct the Palace from the grateful Queen Anne.
With the money, the Duke built the beautiful Blenheim Palace that visitors can see today. Towards the end of the 18th century, Capability Brown, the famous landscaper, was hired to design a gorgeous landscape for the 2000 acres surrounding the Palace.
Inside, students marvelled at the Marlborough Tapestries that depict stages throughout the Battle. An exhibition by Yves Klein, a contemporary artist, caused significant discussion as students decided whether they liked the vibrant additions to the classical rooms. The exhibition of Winston Churchill, the world-famous Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II, was also fascinating to those with a thirst for history and it was intriguing to explore his home (and even see locks of his hair!).
Full of historical information from their audio guides, pupils ventured outside the property to explore the gardens. The Column of Victory, built between 1727-1730, portrays the first Duke as a Roman general and presents another reminder of the victories of the founder of the Palace. Students enjoyed the fresh air and gorgeous weather as they wandered around the Column, taking lots of snaps as they went.
After a full and fascinating day out, ORA pupils returned to SPC for some rest and relaxation. Though week 2 is whizzing by, there is still loads more to come so check back soon to see what else our pupils get up to.
