Blenheim Palace 
regard the palace. The principal front is 348 feet 
in length. It consists of a large central block with 
wings forming the smaller courts, and joined to the 
central block by arcades. We enter the palace 
through a noble 
gateway under a 
tower at the 
easte r n e nd of 
the east court¬ 
yard. Above the 
archway appears 
the inscription; 
“Under the aus¬ 
pices of a munif- 
icent Sovereign 
this house was 
built for John, 
Duke of Marl¬ 
borough, and his 
Duchess Sarah, 
by Sir J. Van¬ 
brugh, between 
the years 1705- 
1722, and this 
royal manor of 
Wood stock, to¬ 
gether with a grant of ^240,000, towards the build¬ 
ing of Blenheim, was given by Her Majesty Queen 
Anne, and confirmed by Act of Parliament (3 and 
4 Anne C. 4) to the said John, Duke of Marl¬ 
borough, and to his issue male and female, lineally 
descending.” The ironwork of the gates records 
the arms and crests of the Duke and interlaced 
M. M., which signify his titles, Marlborough and 
Mindelheim. The latter refers to his title of Prince 
of Mindelheim in Suahia of the Holy Roman 
Empire. On each 
side of the gate¬ 
way there are 
lodges, and sur- 
r o u n d i n g the 
court are estate 
and domestic offi¬ 
ces. dwo sides 
are adorned with 
a piazza. Once 
there were here 
a theatre and the 
d itian gallery, the 
latter of which is 
replaced by a 
conservatory, and 
the former by an 
estate office. The 
Titian gallery 
contained a beau¬ 
tiful collection of 
paintings on lea¬ 
ther which was destroyed by fire in 1861. Over 
the second archway leading to the principal front, 
is a clock tower, and passing onwards the grand 
north front of the palace appears in . sight. Its 
detractors pronounce it heavy, but they cannot 
denyMhaU the effect is imposing, and that the 
TRIUMPHAL ARCH, WOODSTOCK ENTRANCE-BLENHEIM 
BLENHEIM PALACE FROM THE SOUTH 
55 
