A final treat was touring Blenheim palace and gardens today, spoils of war for one of the Dukes of Marlborough. Follow the link to find out which one. I can't remember. In one of the state rooms, at one end is a huge Reynolds family portrait, at the other a Sargent capturing the later family where the Vanderbilts have brought money and heirs to the then duke's flagging fortunes. Bio, Alva and Consuela, tells all apparently.
The grounds are Capability Brown's crowning installation, many thousands of open acres with carefully selected framing "natural" plantings. Many families strolling about. Elizabeth, one of our instructors, lives nearby and had brought her 2 children and Rex the springer spaniel to say goodbye.
We paraded through the room where Winston Churchill was born, where there was displayed a sweet little white linen infant vest, beautifully darned in a couple spots, that he had worn.
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