November 5, 2011

A group of American, Canadian and British Churchillians recently visited Blenheim Palace, following The Churchill Centre’s highly successful International Churchill Conference in London. The group, lead by International Churchill Society of Canada Board Member Gordon Walker and his wife Harriet, was welcomed by the Duke of Marlborough’s eldest daughter Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill.
Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill speaks to the Churchill tour group at Blenheim Palace.
The group enjoyed a guided tour of the Palace, highlighted by the historic Long Library (at some 180 feet, one of the longest rooms in any British stately home), the bedroom in which Sir Winston Churchill was born in November 1874 and Blenheim’s “Churchill’s Destiny” exhibition. Lady Henrietta joined the Churchillians for lunch in the Palace’s historic Indian Room, overlooking Blenheim’s Water Terraces and Fountain. She spoke about recent restoration projects designed to enhance the visitor experience at Blenheim as well as the Spencer-Churchill family’s commitment to maintaining the Palace as one of the great privately-owned historic sites in Britain. She also emphasized the importance of education in the Palace’s mission and welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with The Churchill Centre and its members on future activities.

In addition to stewardship of her family’s historic home, Lady Henrietta is an internationally recognized interior designer and the author of ten books including Blenheim and the Churchill Family: A Personal Portrait (2005). Her firm Spencer-Churchill Designs Limited creates exclusive furnishings, fabrics and wallpapers sold in North America, Britain and other international markets.

Photo courtesy of Gordon and Harriet Walker.