uk treasurehouses

60. Marlborough House:


This Royal Residence is located on the Pall Mall in London, England. Christopher Wren (1632-1723) was commissioned to build Marlborough House for the first Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill (1650-1722), but it is his Duchess, Sarah, who is responsible for the building’s existence. The idea of a town house in London was hers, and she secured the land to lease next to St. James Palace from her close friend Queen Anne. She chose Wren over Vanbrugh, who was then building their country great estate palace, Blenheim near Woodstock for the Duke. The London mansion was nothing like the grandiose Blenheim Palace. It was of red brick and simple. The bricks had been brought to England as ballast on the troop transports that had carried the Duke’s troops in Holland. Sarah laid the cornerstone in 1709 and the house was finished in 1711. She supervised finishing the house herself after she fired Wren who she felt was being taken advantage of by contractors (interestingly, she also interfered mightily in the construction of Blenheim after the Duke’s death). The central salon (2 stories high) and staircases are lined with historical paintings of the Duke’s campaigns, e.g. ‘The Battle of Blenheim’ by Louis Laguerre, and the battles of ‘Ramillies’ and ‘Malplaquet’ also by Laguerre.

In 1733 she tried to improve the driveway directly to Pall Mall, but Robert Walpole, a bitter political rival, bought the leases to all the houses in the way and obstructed the new gateway to spite her. The blocked up arch can still be seen!! After the Duke’s death Sarah spent much time at this London home, from 1722 until her death in 1744. During the 1770’s a third story was added and marble fireplaces were installed. The Dukes of Marlborough occupied the house until 1817 when the land reverted to the Crown. Following the marriage of Princess Charlotte (the only daughter of the future King George IV) and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Cogurg-Gotha in 1816, not only did they get Claremont, but they acquired Camelford House as their London home. After Marlborough House reverted to the Crown in 1817 it was considered a more appropriate home. It was being readied for them – she was pregnant – but she died tragically before the house was ready. After Charlotte’s death, Prince Leopold, like he did at Claremont, used it until he became King of the Belgians in 1831. In that year William IV ascended the throne and Parliament provided Marlborough House to his Queen Adelaide for life if she was ever widowed.

Marlborough House has remained a royal favorite in more modern times. Edward VII (1901-1911) loved to live here when in London. It was the center of his party life. Located on the Marlborough Road of the house is a memorial commemorating Edwards VII’s queen, Alexandra. At present it is used by the British Government as a Commonwealth Centre.

See http://www.timetravel-britain.com/ for directions and more information.

59. Longleat House and Estate:


Longleat House has been magnificent unbroken ancestral home of the Marquis of Bath since 1580! It sits on 900 acres of Capability Brown landscape and parkland and an
additional 8,000 acres of woodland, in Wiltshire just west of Salisbury.

In the late 13th Century an abbey of St. Augustine was built here on the site of the Palace. At the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII in the 1530’s, John Thynne purchased the land in 1536 and began construction of the present home. It is occupied today by the direct descendent of John Thynne, the 7th Marquis, Alexander Thynne and his family, an unbroken family habitation stretching over 500 years!

The present Marquis is an artist and has covered over much of the original wall coverings with wooden panels on which he has painted very modern and abstract murals depicting periods of his life. There are wonderful gardens and a magnificent Safari Park which opened in 1966 where the animals run free and the humans are in their cars. This is an immense Hedge Maze, some 6-7 feet high. It is fully accessible. My wife and I and Aunt M visited Longleat in June 2007. A real must see!!

Check out its website http://www.longleat.co.uk/ for directions, tickets and more information.


58. Leeds Castle:


This magnificent Castle is set on 2 islands on the River Len in the heart of Kent. It has been the home of Royalty, lords and ladies for over 1,000 years! It passed into Royal hands first in 1278 and served as part of the ‘Queen’s Dower’ when her husband the King died. As a result, over a 150 year span 6 ‘Dowager’ or widowed Queens lived out their lives here: Eleanor of Castile, Margaret of France, Isabella of France, Joan of Navarra, Anne of Bohemia and Catherine de Valois.

Henry VIII visited it many times with his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Princess Elizabeth was imprisoned here for awhile by her sister Mary I before she ascended as Queen Elizabeth I in 1558.

Over the centuries when it passed into private hands again, it has been home to the Culpepper, Fairfax and Wykenham-Martin families, often holding major court positions. The last private owner was the Hon. Olive, Lady Baillie who opened it to the public in 1976.

It has been home to many musical concerts, such as Elton John, and political events. On July 17, 1978 Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Dyon met in preparation for the Camp David Accords. In 2006 Prime Minister Tony Blair brought the major politicians from Northern and Southern Ireland together at Leeds Castle for one last attempt to iron out a basis for peace and self-government at Stornmont.

See http://www.leeds-castle.com/ for maps, directions, open times, tickets and more information on content.