Blenheim Palace has announced that its annual deep clean of the stately home is underway in preparation of the monumental £10.4 million undertaking to preserve the Palace's historic architecture and safeguard its heritage for future generations.
Last year, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has been home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705, and one of Britain’s most iconic landmarks, announced its most ambitious restoration project to date, the major repair of the Palace roof.
This month, in preparation for these vital repair works, the cleaning of the plaster and gilded work on all ceilings is being prioritised. The team will be deep cleaning every corner of the ceilings plus monitoring and recording existing damage in case there are any movements due to the restoration works.
The annual deep clean process which takes roughly 6-8 weeks to complete includes everything from the 19 chandeliers, 18 clocks, 11 thousand books, over 1000 pieces of silverware, Boulle furniture, 38 pieces of armour, 40 busts and sculptures, plus tapestries.
The Palace team is using natural cleaning products, distilled water and no aerosol sprays, bristle brushes and old-fashioned elbow grease giving each item the special attention and techniques required for quality preservation. New technologies such as museum vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters, are also incorporated as each room is carefully stripped of all the furniture and artefacts and vacuumed from floor to ceiling.
Kate Ballenger, keeper of palace and collections, said, “Every year this is an enormous undertaking that, once complete, is the most satisfying feeling for the whole team of specialists that come together. Whilst it’s always a mammoth task, this year, we have a smaller window of time to complete our vital deep clean, ahead of the start of the roof restoration project.”
Alongside the restoration works starting, Blenheim Palace is introducing unique visitor experiences that provide exclusive access to previously unseen areas of the Estate as well as the surrounding Oxfordshire countryside. Three exclusive new experiences will also live at the landmark this year:
An all-new ticketed Roof Top View platform experience, providing visitors with never seen before breathtaking views over the Estate and surrounding Oxfordshire countryside.
This year, Blenheim’s renowned gardens undergo a transformation, too – with new features to be explored every season.
Blenheim Palace first opened its doors to the public 75 years ago to raise funds for essential roof conservation work. The project represents the most significant roof restoration in Blenheim Palace’s history. Every penny of visitor funds will contribute directly to this vital conservation effort, ensuring the project’s completion by 2026. In return, visitors will not only be supporting the preservation of this historic landmark but will also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich history.