Another All Morgans' Day Planning Visit To Blenheim Palace

It was Tuesday 13th November today. Why were we visiting Blenheim Palace so soon after holding our 2018 All Morgans' Day event here?

Believe it or not, we have to secure a date for our 2020 biannual event now or risk missing a slot due to the many other events taking place annually. 
It seems that there are lots of new groups also wanting to enjoy Blenheim's stunning beauty and history..

Our meeting was not until 4pm so it was a very pleasant and casual drive for me, travelling up the M3 Motorway and A34 Trunk Road to Oxford before taking the road to The Woodstock Gate of Blenheim Palace. 

I did drive into Woodstock town with the intention of stopping there for a short walk. However, It seems impossible to park a car there during the daytime so I Entered the estate via the Woodstock Gate seen here, and then made a slow drive through the flock of Canada Geese that seem to want top be everywhere judging by the dog sized droppings they leave.

I was unaware of the planned chaos before me as I requested to park near to the Palace building.

With the Autumn evenings closing in just after 4pm it was obvious that it would be dark when we left and with the poor lights on the Morgan I decided to drive there in Big Brother here. 

I would also be staying over nearby for the night so that I could drive to my Son's home in the morning where I needed to deliver some items and to check some recent plumbing installations. 

I discovered that the intense activity going on all around was preparation for a Christmas Craft Fair taking place there over the following weekend. 

However, following my long drive, I was keen to find my way through the colourful Visitors Centre to inspect their plumbing at the rear of the shop.

The decor of the shop is stunning with its Christmas Trees and sparkling lights 

Once again, with no one else around I could not resist a photo or two.

Very Smart and Very Clean

And, A Loo with a View

 Looking towards Woodstock is Capability Browns Lake.

Before meeting up with my colleague Terry Seymour, I need to take a few photos to add to my past collection.

I could not resist a photo of the East Court Gate whose '1st Duke of Marlborough's Crest' formed the design of our stunning 2018 Event Car Badge, specially prepared for us by American Designer Tcherek Kamstra.

My own Car Badge with Series No. 015 on its stem.

As I made my way back out onto the Flagstaff area I spotted the little Twizzy Tours Car on my left. I needed to know how they operated so I visited the information booth.

There I discovered that for £34+ two people can take a car on a tour of the whole estate guided by its SatNav. Something that I would quite like the time to do next time we are here. 

On Friday these marquees will be full of Crafts Stalls.

Cars and Trailers, Fences and Clutter which will all become very smart before the gates open.

Terry's view of the Est Court Gate with its spectacular sun-rays. 

As I make my way along the drive towards the main gate. 

I am nearing the Woodstock Cross Roads; the full extent of our display area with over 650 Morgans attending this year.

There in the distance above the tree tops I spot the 1st Duke at the top of his column.

This is located on the Grand Drive which runs to The Great Court via the Vanbrugh Bridge.

This area is an area I have not investigated or photographed before. It is known as 'The Showground'. 

It is normally used to locate the marquees during large events such as the Flower Show and the Horse Riding & Showjumping events held there.

Today it has been paved with Aluminium Road Boards, ready to be used as an overflow Car Park during the Craft Fair. 

Normally, The Showground is a neatly mowed area apparently, but with the damp weather recently these boards should help protect the flat surface from being severely rutted by heavy cars.

It is located immediately opposite the normal Car Park which looks fairly full today.

It is difficult to see with the sun in the lens but there is not much of a Palace Backdrop to see from here.

The entrance to the area, with its curving road, is located just after the Main Entrance Ticket Booths.

I remember entering along this road when we came to our first ever MOG Picnic held further across the park in long wet grass one August Bank Holiday Monday.

Around the Morgan Motor Company Corral

Our Personal Gazebo on that day

The Aluminium Surface Delivery Trucks have rutted this area despite the granite/soil mix.

Not much of a Palace View from this side either?

One or two large potholes here. I wonder if there are any more under the plates?

This is the best of any Palace Photo Backdrop available for anyone unlucky enough to be located here.

The full extent of the Craft Fair Marquees.

The Miniature Railway Station but trains only run at weekends out of season, so no trains today. It is another of my ambitions to take a ride to the Pleasure Gardens one day.

The Narrow Gauge Track with passing track to allow the engine to be moved to the front of the train.  

I take a walk so that I can photograph The Vanbrugh Bridge as it has been the subject of much news recently when the long spell of dry weather caused the water level to drop, allowing access to rooms built into the bridge.

Terry also took this wider view photo towards the bridge. 

For anyone reading this who can access Channel 4 Television, here is a link to a program on Blenheim Palace where the bridge is featured...https://www.channel4.com/…/phil-spencer…/on-demand/66021-004

Looking across our 2018 Trades Area towards the Roadster 100 and West Green Display Areas

The whole area used for our Mammoth Trades Display this year.

My bag is placed on the table within the Oxford Pantry where our meeting with The Blenheim Palace Head of Operations is to eventually take place. 

I try and fail once more to take a reasonable Selfie of Terry and myself before the meeting.

Our 'Display Area' plan and notebook ready for our meeting.

A view through the glass door of the sort of cloisters to the east Courtyard used for cafe over spill seating.

It is now 5.30pm and our meeting is successfully completed. There is time for a couple of extra shots before we leave.

One of the beautifully decorated tree in the visitors centre.

Earlier In 2018, Blenheim introduced a new Corporate Logo which has now been used to replace the original used on our 2016 car Badge.

As Terry pointed out, its centre area does look a little like a car radiator grill with two headlights. We wonder what Tcherek could do with this to form a 2020 Badge Design?

The corporate logo design issued to me earlier in the year 

Another view of the Cloister from outside of the glass door.

My last Blenheim Palace shot of  Terry trying out the Christmas Cable Car before we went our separate ways.

My turn for the Chair lift.

Terry's final shot of the Night Time Floodlit Palace with Christmas Trees on sentry duty as we say our farewells.

I head off to my hotel for the night. - The Holt, at Hopcrofts Holt located on the old road to Banbury.

My comfortable Single Room

And Bathroom

Just a few nighttime views around the hotel - The Garden Courtyard.

The inner corridor created by a later extension.

One view of The Lounge.

Some cosy fireside Seating

Another view of the Garden Patio and Seating

The Churchill Library.

The rest of the Lounge area.

The view to the courtyard from my bedroom window.

The end of this busy day as I turn in for a good night's sleep.

Frank