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For the last two years, Blenheim Palace has been undergoing the largest makeover in its history. Now, the scaffolding has started to be taken down and the landmark is gearing up to reveal the results.
The £12 million project has focused on repairing the roof. Over the last 300 years, the roof, attic timbers and ceiling below have been severely affected by damp, roof leaks, smoke damage, dirt, mould, decay, collapsed ceilings and a loss of historic fabric. The roof has now been re-leaded and thousands of slates have been replaced to help preserve the building for future generations.
Conservators have also been carefully restoring paintings in the Saloon and a blue and gold painting of an eye on the North Portico roof. They’ve removed years of dirt, cleaned the gilding, secured flaking paint and softened the discolouration to bring artworks back to life.
The results of the restoration are being unveiled bit by bit. Thanks to the work, the grand statue of Britannia can now be seen standing on top of the landmark and the Great Court’s columns are once again visible to the public. The Saloon will be gradually revealed later this month and members of the public will be able to watch the final conservation works taking place on the lower wall paintings in September. The whole project will be complete once the Louis XIV statue on the South Lawn is unwrapped and clear of scaffolding, but an exact date for that hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Heather Carter, managing director of Blenheim Palace, said that the restoration has been a ‘massive effort’ that has involved the collaboration of hundreds of skilled people, from conservation engineers to the palace’s maintenance team.
She added: ‘The project is not just about preserving our past; it's about creating new ways for visitors to engage with our history now and well into the future. We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to see Blenheim Palace’s ‘Glow Up’ and celebrate this monumental restoration. We are so grateful for the continued support of our visitors, whose contributions are vital to the success of the initiative.’
Blenheim Palace is open throughout the ‘glow up’ works.
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