Private Palaces: The Mansions of the Marlboroughs

Due to the Duke of Marlborough‘s military genius and the crush that Queen Anne had on his wife, the duchess, the Marlboroughs were presented with two of the greatest houses of the age.
Blenheim and Marlborough House encapsulate the architectural rivalries and ambitions of patrons and architects illuminating the febrile atmosphere of the last days of the Stuart dynasty.
A lecture by Simon Thurley CBE
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and...
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[@angieh8228]

Another fantastic talk by Simon Thurley, I could listen to his lectures all day as they are absolutely fascinating! Thank you Simon.

[@julieblackstock8650]

Loved all 4 of these lectures, very easy to listen to and fascinating subject matter

[@FiveLiver]

Whenever I see Simon Thurley, I remember his climbing up the inside of the spire of Salisbury Cathedral, and him fearing that it might 'collapse at any moment'!

[@matthewkelly2399]

Absolutely Magnificent! Encore, encore, bravo!

[@Vintagevanessa99]

Fabulous set of lectures thanyou thankyou bravo ! 🩷🧡

[@jhb1493]

Great lecture entertainingly presented, as always. I really appreciate the work put in to this. "The First Churchills" is one of my favourite mini-series, and it was great to get a more detailed and less "costume drama" view of these people. For people so cost-conscious, they certainly had a mania for building. On the whole, I am more sympathetic with Sarah's taste in architecture. Imagine trying to maintain a building like Blenheim today!

[@johnjon1823]

Groom of the stool! So so many connotations with that one. The head Mr. Softee arranger. and on and on.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Thank you for the video!

[@TheJennick13]

My gads that is a HUGE house!!!

[@irenemislej2378]

brilliant... thanks

[@Eric_200]

£250 thousand in ‘today’s money’??? Might want to restate that!

[@robinusher5707]

Surely the Talman mentioned in connection with Holywell House should be William, rather than John?

[@ageofechochambers9469]

Correction #56:57 they couldn't have moved into their house in 1619 since they were not born yet .

[@nick4uuk]

But there's a typo in the thumbnail :(

[@GreshamCollege]

Thanks for spotting that - now fixed!

[@davidpayant8684]

Where do these people who neither spin nor sow make their money? That is the story, not the huge buildings.🐝🐝

[@jhb1493]

Marlborough might not have spun or sown, but he sure reaped - and horrible tho' it may be, mass-slaughter is a time honoured way to build a private fortune that is still pursued today.

[@JohnVKaravitis]

"and the crush that Queen Anne had on his wife," Link? I thought not.