Our  "home base" while here was Paul & Prue's estate  "Mendips".         ( That's Roy & Paul on the bikes )

It's a delightful property ... full of ponds, horse trails & huge fields.

Roy is not an animal "cuddle-person".   The dogs & horses don't accept that.

In addition to their personal horses ... which include the grandchildren's .... there are quite a few race horses here ( Prue is a race horse trainer ).

Mom & Foal

Even though race horses are often high-strung ..... these seem to be extremely affectionate.

This guy wasn't real sure he wanted to be friends ... but soon he came around and gave me a smile & a nuzzle.

Rental Roy hasn't reached his full growth yet

.... but he promises to be a

 REALLY BIG guy

I think he was a bit more affectionate than Roy preferred, though

My favorite is the far left photo ... with the tongue.                This guy is definitely a first class sweetheart !!

This was a priory several  centuries ago .... and most of the original buildings have been restored & are in use.

The outside of the main building has been kept intact ... but added onto.

The inside has been updated for guests comfort

and now conforms to modern safety codes.

Since the weather was good... afternoon tea was held outside.

The out-buildings that now house the suites  still have the original thatched roofs

This was

our place 

( for the 4 of us ).

with  FDR  &  Winston

There was a nice path thru the woods that led down to a rocky beach

This is a HUGE piece of real estate.

The photo shows only a small portion of it.

Main Entrance

Terraced Gardens

Fountain Alley

Yup ... found me a greyhound

Portrait of family done in 1847

Famous portrait with John Brown ... done in 1865  ( Osborne House in back )

Grand Corridor

Billiard Room

Drawing Room

Dunbar Rm .. with Peacock Chimneypiece

Council Room

left photo:

Victoria's Sitting Room

( notice the

"his & her" desks )

right photo:

Victoria's Bedroom

Who knows how many centuries old that tree is !!!

They set up lunch for us at the other end of this  "pool"

The entrance is to the far left .... going thru the "crested" gates ... into the small courtyard ... & then thru the "lion gates" into the main part.

There have been many many movies made ... featuring the central courtyard and grounds --- "Tarzan of Greystoke" is one of them.

The main entrance  which leads into the small courtyard ..... features the Family Crest

Coming thru the Lion Gate ... entering the main courtyard

Main Entrance to the palace.

left:

Charles - 9th Duke of Marlborough

and wife ... former

Consuela Vanderbilt.

( Charles was Winston Churchill's cousin )

right:

John - 11th Duke of Marlborough

( present Duke )

We got a special tour thru his private

section of the palace.

Now that's what I call an Entrance Hall  !!!

Salon

Library

Small section of the Dining Room

Salon

Chapel

Winston's Churchill's Bedroom

( Winston was born at Blenheim )

The grounds are VAST  VAST  VAST !!!

photo at right :   View of palace from one of the lakes

Pool Garden

Terrace Pool & Fountain Group detail

Hedge Garden & Fountain detail

Circular  Rose Arbor

This is where Churchill brought Clementine to propose to her.

Morhen Chick

From the Sublime  ( Prince Michael's car ) .......

to the Goofy    ( Flintstone's  Car )