Undoubtedly the majestic Water Terraces on the west front are a major part of the 9th Duke’s outstanding legacy to the Palace. A remarkable 20th century achievement, they have been compared to  the Parterre d’Eau at Versailles. The Duke took his inspiration from Bernini whose river-gods fountain, now on the lower terrace, is a scale model of the original in Rome’s Piazza Navona.*

In 1929 when the work was virtually complete, the 9th Duke wrote: “Pray tell Monsieur Duchene that the ensemble of the terraces is magnificent and in my judgement far superior to the work done by Le Notre at Versailles. The proportion of the house, the terrace and the lake is perfect.”*

I shall finish with a picture from my previous visit to Blenheim, which was in 2004.  It was taken from the top of the slope in the picture above, looking back down on the water terrace. Where do all those years go?

*From the Blenheim Palace guidebook printed 2014