We resume our story in Bath. The morning that we were due to leave, I Facetimed my best friend back home in Australia to show her the Royal Crescent which was just a short walk from our hotel. Then we had breakfast – which was beeee-utiful! – and we hit the road bound for Blenheim.
I had never read much about this place, I think because its origins are so deeply rooted in an era that I have not studied very closely. I think Spencer knew more of it than I did! I of course knew what it looked like, but walking through that building, seeing the vastness of it, the opulence – you can understand why it is called a palace rather than a house.
As a standing monument to the Duke of Marlborough’s victory at the Battle of Blenheim, it chronicles the events of the battle through the story telling Marlborough Tapestries. As you walk from room to room, these floor to ceiling masterpieces depict the epic battle scenes and pivotal moments – such as when the 1st Duke of Marlborough scribbled a note to his wife to inform her of his victory, and the note itself is enshrined in the room with that particular tapestry!
The painted Saloon, with its epergne and golden settings, is decorated with a scene on the upper walls, showing the various political intrigues going on during the period of the war. There is a copy of the famous Henry VIII Holbein over a doorway, and a fabulously and meticulously curated library before you can tour the Winston Churchill section of the house where he was born.
After finishing up at Blenheim, we hopped back in the car and headed off to our next over-night stay – the Swan at Stafford. Now, for those who have already read Exceptionally Unconventional, you’ll know that Lucilla stayed there overnight where the first encounter with the gentlemen happens. I got to walk the cobbled street and stand where it happened, and stay at the inn where she stayed too. It was magical for me.
We spent a little while wandering the streets, admiring the gothic church and cemetery and the few other historical buildings in the town. Sadly it is not as well preserved as some other townships, the imprint of previous decades of progress is present and even the locals seem to think it doesn’t create a great aesthetic which is a real shame.
I did love the Swan though – it was a fabulous inn, and it’s history is pretty extensive which is why I chose it for my story. It was a beautiful place to stay and the food was fantastic, definitely a top spot for me!
The next day, after yet another great breakfast (yes, I came home heavier than I like) we hit the road for our next historical house. Chatsworth.
I see why this place inspired Jane Austen, it is a magical place. I think the gardens in particular are wonderful! The ode to doggos is everywhere – we already know the Dukes of Devonshire to be dog lovers. By this point I was very deeply missing my dogs, so it was nice to see both statue and real dogs everywhere in the park. As I was getting out of the car when we arrived I saw a beautiful labradoodle looking doggo getting out of his pawrents car, they said his name and I thought it was a very dignified name that suited him perfectly – fast-forward two hours and I came across a name-tag in the grass in the garden and it was the same dognified name I had heard in the car park, and lo and behold, we came across them a few minutes later! The pawrents were very happy to have found the tag – apparently doggo has lost a few, I wonder how he does it…
The weather was wonderful for wandering the gardens – and of course, the visit to the gift shop. The way the old stable buildings have been converted to the gift shop and restaurant is great, such a good idea! I loved the winged horse display on the walk up, and the big draught horse statue in the courtyard, its a nice reminder of what the building’s purpose originally was.
We spent the evening at a hotel watching Poldark again, needing a little downtime after all of the exploration we had been doing. Next stop, York.
Victoria Clarke 