BLENHEIM PALACE WORLD HERITAGE SITE REVISED MANAGEMENT PLAN 2017 BLENHEIM PALACE WORLD HERITAGE SITE World Heritage and National Heritage Management Plan Review 2017 Prepared by: Historic Landscape Management Ltd Lakeside Cottage Lyng Easthaugh, LYNG Norfolk NR9 5LN and Nick Cox Architects 77 Heyford Park UPPER HEYFORD Oxfordshire OX25 5HD With specialist input from: John Moore Heritage Services Wild Frontier Ecology The Blenheim Palace WHS Steering Group comprises representatives from: Blenheim Palace Senior Management Team Department of Culture, Media and Sport Historic England ICOMOS-UK Natural England Oxfordshire County Council West Oxfordshire District Council i TWO FOUR CONTENTS SIGNIFICANCES, CHALLENGES AND IMPLEMENTATION OPPORTUNITIES 11 ACTION PLAN ONE 5 THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE • Short, medium and long term goals UNDERSTANDING AND BACKGROUND • Explanation of SoOUV • Integrity and authenticity 1 INTRODUCTION • Attributes which help convey OUV • Stakeholders and contributors • World heritage 6 THE NATIONAL HERITAGE ASSETS • National heritage • Statements of significance • Purpose of the management plan • National, regional and local values • The first plan and its achievements • Structure and content of the second plan 7 CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES • Opportunities for future research and study 2 BACKGROUND CONTEXT • Challenges for the next ten years • Location • Setting • Designations and heritage features THREE • Land use and management • Public access and events VISION AND MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES • Management resources 8 VISION FOR THE FUTURE • Vision for the future of the WHS 3 HISTORY OF BLENHEIM • Narrative history 9 MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES • Historic maps and plans • Overarching objectives • Other historic imagery • Setting of the WHS • Links with the local community 4 CHARACTER AND CONDITION OF THE WHS • Conserving the architectural heritage • Blenheim Palace • Conserving the landscape heritage • Lancelot Brown’s Centrepiece • Conserving the archaeological heritage • The North Park • Conserving the natural heritage • The East and West Valleys • Enjoying the WHS • Lower Park • Funding conservation activities • Bladon Park • Improving knowledge and understanding • The Lince • High Park 10 MONITORING AND REVIEW • Gardens and Pleasure Grounds • Arrangements for monitoring and review ii APPENDICES • Schedule 1 • Condition maps and schedules I MAPS TO ACCOMPANY THE MANAGEMENT PLAN • Buildings and structures • Archaeology • Figure 1 Location • Landscape - land use and tree survey • Figure 2 Boundary of WHS and IHT Heritage • Ecology - Phase 1 habitat survey, High Park, area Lake survey • Figure 3 National Statutory Designations • Access • Figure 4 Public Access and Visitor Facilities • The Action Plan annotated to show which • Figure 5 Character of the Setting items are mandatory requirements • Figure 6 WHS Character Areas of the undertakings, and which are voluntary • Figure 7 Land Use enhancements. • Figure 8 Location of Key Historic Features • Figure 9 National Nature Conservation Designations and Priority Habitats • Figure 10 Significant Archaeological Earthworks II BACKGROUND DATA • Bibliography of sources consulted • List descriptions of listed buildings • Scheduled Monument descriptions and boundaries • SSSI citation and condition summaries • Registered Park and Gardens description and boundary map • Historic information including map sequence • Awards recieved - 2013-2016 - heritage and tourism III THE SETTING STUDY IV PUBLIC CONSULTATION OUTCOMES V THE NATIONAL HERITAGE UNDERTAKINGS • The Undertakings • IHT boundary map iii PREFACE of objectives for Blenheim Palace in this new Management Plan will help to secure, among BY TRACEY CROUCH, HERITAGE other benefits, the conservation of the park MINISTER and Palace, encouragement for sustainable development, incorporation of world heritage interests into the Local Development Framework, As Heritage Minister I am delighted to present engagement with the local community, this new Management Plan for Blenheim Palace enhancement of the visitor experience, and World Heritage Site. This plan provides a overall protection of the site’s Outstanding comprehensive vision for the site for its next Universal Value. chapter, and sets out a series of sustainable policies and practices that will help us to cherish I would like to express my thanks to His and protect its Outstanding Universal Value for Grace the Duke of Marlborough and to the future generations. Blenheim Palace World Heritage Site Steering Group for all their hard work in producing this Blenheim Palace is one of the finest princely Management Plan. I am confident that it will residences in the world. Built to honour the provide invaluable direction in the ongoing first Duke of Marlborough and later closely management of the Palace and park, and will associated with Sir Winston Churchill, the enable its guardians to preserve and convey the Palace illustrates the beginnings of the English significance of this internationally celebrated Romantic movement and had an influential place to current and future generations. effect on 18th and 19th century architecture in Britain and beyond. The surrounding Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown landscape is widely acknowledged to be one of the finest examples of naturalistic landscape design, and is also registered as a Grade I Park and Garden. The UK Government takes its responsibilities under the World Heritage Convention very seriously. As set out in the Culture White Paper published in 2015, we are striving to set a global standard in stewardship of our World Heritage Sites. As part of this we are committed to ensuring that each site has a thorough and up to date Management Plan to assist in its conservation and protection. The diverse set iv FOREWORD its park became a World Heritage Site in 1987. Trustees and I appreciate that the plan is a It is my task to preserve and enhance this living document, and one which we will need to BY HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF great legacy of my ancestors and I do so out alter, amend and review as circumstances and MARLBOROUGH of great affection for Blenheim Palace and a funding dictate. By doing so I am confident that determination to keep it going, despite the it will help guide us in our mission to preserve many pressures we face. This management plan Blenheim Palace’s Outstanding Universal Value, My family have lived at Blenheim Palace since brings together all the strands of activity that we which makes the place so special to us all. 1719, but the history of the estate stretches have developed over many years in the course back into medieval and Tudor times, when it was of the day-to-day running of the Palace and Park, the site of a Royal manor to which the monarchs including historical preservation, landscape of England frequently resorted. Many centuries restoration, public access and education, of use and development have left their mark agriculture, fishing, and game and nature on the Palace and park in different ways. In conservation. Blenheim Palace is unusual in recognition of its outstanding architecture, the being not just a World Heritage Site but also the national and international historical roles of my private home of my family, and in supporting ancestor the 1st Duke of Marlborough and his this management plan we hope to balance descendant Sir Winston Churchill, and Lancelot the two by considering and implementing its ‘Capability’ Brown’s internationally famous work recommendations wherever possible. The of re-landscaping the Park, Blenheim Palace and v ONE UNDERSTANDING AND BACKGROUND This section provides the background information which is necessary in helping to develop an understanding of the Blenheim Palace and Park World Heritage Site. It explains the need for the document, sets out the achievements of the last 10 years and provides a general overview of historic development, as well as the current state of conservation and condition. 1 INTRODUCTION 2 BACKGROUND CONTEXT 3 HISTORY OF BLENHEIM 4 CHARACTER AND CONDITION OF THE WHS ONE 1 1 Introduction 1 INTRODUCTION governments and site managers to ensure the long- term protection of the site. As part of this process of protection, preparing a management plan for each STAKEHOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS WHS is now required by UNESCO so that the special qualities which make it important are recognised and 1.01 This plan has been prepared under the guidance policies set for their protection and enhancement. At of a Steering Group which includes representatives the same time, a Statement of Outstanding Universal from Blenheim Palace, Historic England, Natural Value (SOUV) is also agreed and adopted by the World England, DCMS, ICOMOS-UK, Oxfordshire County Heritage Committee. This Statement sets out what the Council and West Oxfordshire District Council. Committee considers to be of Outstanding Universal The plan has been written by Historic Landscape Value about the site in relation to the World Heritage Management Ltd with input on the historic properties Convention and includes statements of integrity and, from Nick Cox Architects. for cultural sites such as Blenheim Palace, authenticity, in addition to the recording the requirements for protection and management. Statements of WORLD HERITAGE Outstanding Universal Value represent key reference documents for the protection and management of each 1.02 Blenheim Palace was inscribed as a World WHS and can only be amended or altered by the World Heritage Site (WHS) in 1987 by the World Heritage Heritage Committee. In the UK, the cultural