10 Winston at home
‘We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us,’ said Winston Churchill in 1943, arguing for the recently bombed House of Commons to be rebuilt in a layout that would preserve its boisterous style of democracy. Fifty years after his death, and 75 after he became prime minister at one of the darkest moments in WWII, it seems fitting to heed the great man’s words and visit the place where he was born. Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire was the grand creation of his ancestor, John Churchill, made the first Duke of Marlborough for his victories against the French – a parallel covered in a newly reopened exhibition at the palace, which also includes photographs, letters and other memorabilia. Afterwards, make a detour to Bladon parish church to see Churchill’s final resting place.
A painted version of Yousuf Karsh’s famous photo of a scowling Churchill
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April 2015
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