Guests Night - RAU Ken Russell Room
Wed, Apr 10th 2019 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
CatherineTalbot “Ladies of Blenheim"
At April’s guest dinner meeting, member’s enjoyed an interesting and entertaining presentation by Catherine Talbot entitled 'Ladies of Blenheim’. Catherine is a member of Blenheim Palace’s Education Department and this was her first talk to an adult audience. She explained that Queen Anne gave the Manor of Woodstock to John Churchill following his victory over the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession, together with a huge amount of money for him to build a house. He was also made 1st Duke of Marlborough but continued his military campaigns in Europe. Therefore, the responsibility of overseeing the construction of Blenheim Palace fell on his wife, Sarah Jennings, the 1st Duchess. The Palace took 28 years to build during which time the Duke died. The Marlborough’s two eldest sons died and a special Act of Parliament was passed so that their eldest daughter could inherit and become the 2nd Duchess. She married into the Godolphin family and therefore into money. Her sister’s son married into the Spencer family thus creating the Spencer Churchill family name and a link with the late Princess Diana. The palace and estate were very expensive to run and as time passed lack of sufficient money became critical. The 7th Duchess was Winston Churchill’s grandmother and she had 11 children. Her eldest son became 8th Duke. He divorced his first wife and then married Lilian Hammersley, an extremely rich American who became the 8th Duchess, as by now the estate was in need of a large injection of cash. The 7th Duchess’s second son was Randolph Spencer Churchill, Winston’s father, therefore Winston’s uncle became the 8th Duke. The 8th Duchess (1854-1909) was a very formidable woman and is largely responsible for preserving the Palace as we see it today. Her eldest son became the 9th Duke and he also married a very rich American, Consuela Vanderbilt whom he divorced and married another very rich American, Gladys Deacon. Marrying into wealth continued with the 10th Duke who married Mary Cadogan who became the 10th Duchess. She led the Oxfordshire Red Cross during WW2. The 11th Duke married into the Hornby family (WH Smith) and then into the Onassis family. The current (12th) Duke and Duchess still live in a part of the Palace for part of each year and it was they, and their parents, who opened the Palace to visitors and a venue for special events ensuring financial survival.’
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