Arkell & Wills at Blenheim International Horse Trials
It’s the start of our new Arkell & Wills Cashmere season and for many years we have been able to launch our new collections at the Blenheim International Horse Trials, and this year is no different.
Blenheim Palace, is the most beautiful building and example of baroque architecture, designed by John Vanbrugh for John Churchill the first Duke of Marlborough. It was built under the instruction of Queen Anne as a thank you to the Duke of Marlborough for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. The palace is one of the largest houses in the United Kingdom and the only palace that is not directly associated with our royal family.
The palace sits in 2,000 acres of stunning historic parkland in Woodstock on the outskirts of Oxford. The grounds were first laid out by Henry Wise in the early 18th century, Sir John Vanburgh, who as we’ve already mentioned was the architect behind the palace itself also had a hand in them. In the 1760’s the park was landscaped by no other that the famous Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, then between 1910 and 1930 new parterres were added to the palace by the French designer Achille Duchêne.
Famously, Sir Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace on the 30th of November 1874. His father, Randolph Churchill was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough. The palace is now the home of the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family.
Blenheim Palace has hosted the International Horse Trials since 1990, the course was designed by Eric Winter and built by David Evans, Eric Winter still looks after the design and the ground conditions. The horse trials or as they are also known as Eventing, are held over four days, and split into three phases, day one being dressage, the second phase show jumping and the final is the cross-country course.
As well as the wonderful horse spectacular, there is also a great shopping village, which is where we will be with our new AW24 collection, so please do come and say hello to us on stand 1030. This year Blenheim International Horse Trials runs from Thursday the 19th to Sunday the 22nd of September and tickets can the purchased from https://www.bpiht.co.uk/
