2008-05-11-027_1 Blenheim Grand Bridge & Lake (Queen Pool)
I was hoping to get a good recent view of the Grand Bridge from the Queen Pool Side. I liked this one, but there was a haze which slightly spoilt the light. I'll have to go back and try again!
The Blenheim grounds are regarded as the best example of English Landscape Gardening as devised and practised by Lancelot (Capability) Brown.
The development of this view was haphazard, what we know know as Blenheim was originally a Royal Park. It was here that Queen Elizabeth I was confined during the reign of her half sister Queen Mary.
The Park was given to John Churchill following his defeat of French Armies at the battle of Blindheim (eng. Blenheim) in 1704. This frustrated the aims of Louis XIV in the War of the Spanish Succession.
The Bridge was designed by John Vanbrugh who was engaged as architect for Blenheim Palace. There was considerable animosity between Vanbrugh and Sarah Churchill (the first Duchess of Marlborough), and this is reflected in the Bridge. Vanbrugh's original scheme was to build an even grander bridge, with several rooms incorporated. He also wanted to retain the original Woodstock Manor. Sarah however insisted that the manor be demolished, and the rubble went into the Grand Bridge; she also halted construction of the Grand Bridge before it was completed, thus giving us the Bridge we have today.
When built the bridge crossed the River Glyme which is a tiny stream. Capability Brown was commissioned to rework the grounds some 50 years after construction of the bridge, and created the lake by damming the river. The lake divides into two pools, the Queen Pool (seen here) and the King Pool on the further side of the lake. Brown also created the island in the Queen Pool (rather fancifully now called Queen Elizabeth Island although it wasn't there when Queen Elizabeth I was held there, and the current Queen has nothing to do with it either!).
Following the creation of the lake the lower floors of the bridge were flooded, there are some window openings that give a clue to the presence of a lower level.
Blenheim is the home of the current Duke of Marlborough, it was also the birthplace of Winston Churchill.
2008-05-11-027_1 Blenheim Grand Bridge & Lake (Queen Pool)
I was hoping to get a good recent view of the Grand Bridge from the Queen Pool Side. I liked this one, but there was a haze which slightly spoilt the light. I'll have to go back and try again!
The Blenheim grounds are regarded as the best example of English Landscape Gardening as devised and practised by Lancelot (Capability) Brown.
The development of this view was haphazard, what we know know as Blenheim was originally a Royal Park. It was here that Queen Elizabeth I was confined during the reign of her half sister Queen Mary.
The Park was given to John Churchill following his defeat of French Armies at the battle of Blindheim (eng. Blenheim) in 1704. This frustrated the aims of Louis XIV in the War of the Spanish Succession.
The Bridge was designed by John Vanbrugh who was engaged as architect for Blenheim Palace. There was considerable animosity between Vanbrugh and Sarah Churchill (the first Duchess of Marlborough), and this is reflected in the Bridge. Vanbrugh's original scheme was to build an even grander bridge, with several rooms incorporated. He also wanted to retain the original Woodstock Manor. Sarah however insisted that the manor be demolished, and the rubble went into the Grand Bridge; she also halted construction of the Grand Bridge before it was completed, thus giving us the Bridge we have today.
When built the bridge crossed the River Glyme which is a tiny stream. Capability Brown was commissioned to rework the grounds some 50 years after construction of the bridge, and created the lake by damming the river. The lake divides into two pools, the Queen Pool (seen here) and the King Pool on the further side of the lake. Brown also created the island in the Queen Pool (rather fancifully now called Queen Elizabeth Island although it wasn't there when Queen Elizabeth I was held there, and the current Queen has nothing to do with it either!).
Following the creation of the lake the lower floors of the bridge were flooded, there are some window openings that give a clue to the presence of a lower level.
Blenheim is the home of the current Duke of Marlborough, it was also the birthplace of Winston Churchill.