Exterior view
by VANBRUGH, John, Photo
The mighty complex measures 275 meters in length and 175 meters in depth, centring on a large court. The great hall and salon lie at the centre of the longitudinal axis, and the kitchen court and stable court with the relevant appointments are sited on the transverse axis. Heterogeneous architectural elements are used in a sort of collage and colonnades and porticos are used as links. English heritage is predominant in the design. The decoration designed by Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721) is a clear expression of the national character of the palace.
The picture shows the entrance (the North Gate).
View the ground plan of Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire.