Blenheim Palace calls for help to solve decades-old mystery of Great Hall graffiti
Conservators at Blenheim Palace are calling on the public to help solve a 90-year-old mystery they’ve uncovered whilst working on the vital £1 million restoration of priceless paintings in the Great Hall.
The year-long programme, led by Opus Conservation, has revealed a number of pieces of decades-old graffiti, high up in the Great Hall. Staff at the Palace had previously believed no one had accessed the space for centuries.
Amongst the fascinating scribbles and scratched names are two intriguing ‘signatures’:
F. R. Rambone
292 Abingdon Rd, Oxford
Vacuum cleaner
Feb 10th 1931
These windows was varnished by G T Higgs 1921 Oxford
Other pieces of graffiti include:
-
T Riley 2011
-
J F Brennan 1968
-
J. Henfry 1968
-
H J Brennan 1968
-
W A Hunt 1968
-
W Smith 1888
-
T Harwood Plasterer 1843
-
E Tuffrey Valentine’s Day 1939
-
Rewired LH 1935
Lizzie Woolley, Director of Opus Conservation, commented: “We were amazed to discover these pieces of graffiti – our understanding was that we were the first people for centuries to access the ceilings in the Great Hall and Saloon. It would be brilliant to solve the mystery of who these people were, and what they were doing in the Great Hall.”
The year-long painting restoration programme, led by Opus Conservation, marks a significant investment in the conservation of the World Heritage Site’s most architecturally and artistically significant interiors.
The project is generously funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Blenheim Foundation, and brings together a unique collaboration of expert conservators, academics, and heritage professionals. It also serves as a hub for learning and research, with contributions from the Tate, The Courtauld Institute of Art, and the University of Oxford.
The painting conservation work runs alongside the monumental £12 million roof restoration project – the most ambitious undertaking in the history of Britain’s Greatest Palace.
A combination of age, climate change and penetration from rainfall have led to the declining state of the roof, attic timbers and ceilings below. The priceless artworks in the Saloon and Great Hall are at risk of being lost forever if the work is not carried out.
The artworks which are central to the painting conservation project include The Great Hall ceiling painting by Sir James Thornhill, and Louis Laguerre’s paintings of the Battle of Blenheim in The Saloon.
Anyone who has information about the people mentioned in the graffiti can contact the PR team at Blenheim Palace – [email protected]
For opening times, ticketing and more information please visit, www.blenheimpalace.com
ENDS
For more information, contact Campaign, A Cab Studio – [email protected]
About Blenheim Palace
Home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace is set in over 2,000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland and is the birthplace of one of Britain’s most famous leaders, Sir Winston Churchill.
With over 300 years of history to share and one of the most important and extensive collections in Europe, Blenheim Palace is not only an iconic part of history, but also a living, changing experience with a wealth of sporting and cultural events, themed exhibitions and tours all year around.
A short miniature train ride away from the Palace is the Walled Garden, which boasts interactive areas entirely dedicated for families to explore including Adventure Play and the Rowse Honey Hive, The Marlborough Maze and Butterfly House. With curated events, an exciting programme of annual activities, entertainment and dedicated eateries for families, these areas guarantee a memorable family day out.
Beyond the grounds and an array of Formal Gardens, the total Estate expands into a further 10,000 acres and focuses on care for the land through sustainable means, pursuing net zero, the growth of the local economy, the provision of affordable homes, apprenticeship training and supported community groups.
Blenheim Palace is Britain’s Greatest Palace.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund
