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Saturday 30 April 2016

Exploring Blenheim

Laura decided to take her little brother to Blenheim Palace on the Sunday after Easter.  

In the long library they found the coronation robes which the family had used when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953.
Laura and Edmund with the Blenheim Palace Coronation robes
The information board about the Coronation clothes
In the long Library is a historic Willis pipe organ - it was being played for the Sunday afternoon recital by an organist called Jonathan Kingston
Laura and Edmund were impressed with the sound of the Blenheim Palace Willis organ, even though it needs restoration it still sounded good because the organist was so good at avoiding the bits which didn't work.
Outside Edmund found a milestone path about Churchill
Laura and Edmund looked up at the bust of Winston Churchill in the milestone path, which was surrounded by daffodils
Next they visited the Blenheim cascade
Edmund and Laura stood on the bridge below the cascade and looked up at the falling water
Then they walked up to the viewpoint beside the cascade to get another look - it was very noisy
The information board about the Blenheim Palace cascade
On the walk along the lake back towards the house Laura and Edmund found the boat house
Edmund REALLY wanted to have a ride in a boat
Near the house were the water terraces, Edmund wanted to run on the grass to the water and Laura had to restrain him as she didn't think walking on that grass was allowed.
Edmund was a bit disappointed about not being allowed on the grass
However Edmund soon cheered up when he saw there were Easter egg cupcakes and hot chocolate at the Water terrace restaurant
Laura and Edmund found the entrance to the house overlooking the south lawn, which was vast
They stood on the steps in front of the big entrance door to look out at the south lawn
Edmund and Laura found the entrance to the Secret Garden at Blenheim Palace
The Secret Garden had been restored and was just waking up after the winter

Beyond the secret garden was a fountain called the Roundel - Laura and Edmund sat down to rest and watch the water jets spurting out of the centre
Soon it was time to go home - Laura and Edmund had one last look at Blenheim Palace
This happened at the beginning of April, however I've had so little time for blogging because of work and the volunteer project that it is only now, the last day of the month that I was finally able to find a moment to sort my photos of this fun trip.  Last year on Easter day we took Laura to Blenheim Palace however I never edited those photos and they didn't find their way into a blog post.