Blenheim Palace and bridge from the site of the old Palace of Woodstock.
Blenheim sits in a huge park of about 2000 acres that was originally a 12th century deer park, The Palace of Woodstock was actually a hunting lodge and Elizabeth I was briefly imprisoned there by her elder half sister Mary I when the latter was queen. Its ruins were demolished under the orders of the imperious Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough (See the film 'The Favourite') as she felt it spoilt the view from the new palace.
The rather curious proportions of the bridge are due to the fact it pre-dates the lake engineered by 'Capability' Brown. It was originally built as a huge triumphant arch carrying the roadway across the steep sided valley high above the small River Glyme. Contemporary opinion was it looked ridiculously incongruous in such a setting. It reputedly has 30 rooms, the vast majority flooded when the artificial lake was created post-1760.
Blenheim Palace and bridge from the site of the old Palace of Woodstock.
Blenheim sits in a huge park of about 2000 acres that was originally a 12th century deer park, The Palace of Woodstock was actually a hunting lodge and Elizabeth I was briefly imprisoned there by her elder half sister Mary I when the latter was queen. Its ruins were demolished under the orders of the imperious Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough (See the film 'The Favourite') as she felt it spoilt the view from the new palace.
The rather curious proportions of the bridge are due to the fact it pre-dates the lake engineered by 'Capability' Brown. It was originally built as a huge triumphant arch carrying the roadway across the steep sided valley high above the small River Glyme. Contemporary opinion was it looked ridiculously incongruous in such a setting. It reputedly has 30 rooms, the vast majority flooded when the artificial lake was created post-1760.