The Churchill Series - Mar. 16, 2009

(One of a series of weekday posts about the life of Winston S. Churchill.)

This from yesterday's Daily Telegraph - - -

Blenheim Palace wins garden of the year

The gardens at Blenheim Palace, in which Sir Winston Churchill proposed to his future wife, have been named the finest in Britain.

By Alastair Jamieson
Last Updated: 9:31AM GMT 16 Mar 2009

The gardens at Blenheim have often been overshadowed by the palace's baroque architecture

Landscaped by Capability Brown in the 18th century, the 80 acres of formal garden see half a million visitors every year and were recently used as a location for some scenes in the film The Young Victoria.

The grounds have often been overshadowed by the magnificence of the baroque house, which features three flamboyant state rooms and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Now Blenheim Palace, at Woodstock, near Oxford, has been named Garden of the Year by the Historic Houses Association in the 25th annual competition sponsored by auction house, Christie's.

The family seat of the Duke of Marlborough, it is also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and the place where Britain's future wartime leader proposed to Miss Clementine Hozier in 1908.

The couple had taken refuge in the Temple of Diana summerhouse, near the lake, after being caught in a shower during a walk in the grounds. Churchill, famous for his lack of punctuality, nearly ruined the big moment by arriving late for the walk, leaving 'Clemmie' contemplating an early return to London.

The rest of the Telly's story's here. It includes some splendid links.

Enjoy!

John