In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas speaks with Carmen Alvarez, the collections and conservation manager at Blenheim Palace. They discuss the significance of Blenheim Palace, its new exhibitions, the challenges of conserving historical garments, and the evolution of public engagement in heritage conservation. Carmen shares insights into the Ladies of Blenheim exhibition, the legacy of Winston Churchill, and future projects aimed at enhancing visitor experiences.

Links

• Blenheim Palace Official Website
• Ladies of Blenheim Exhibition
• Meet the Collections Team
• Great British Houses – Blenheim Palace
• John 1st Duke of Marlborough
• Great Britons Winston Churchill

Takeaways

• Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a significant historical landmark.
• The Ladies of Blenheim exhibition highlights the fashion and stories of remarkable women in the palace’s history.
• Conservation of historical garments requires meticulous care and innovative techniques.
• Public engagement has evolved significantly over the past 75 years at Blenheim Palace.
• Winston Churchill’s connection to Blenheim is deeply rooted in his family history and personal experiences.
• The conservation team faces unique challenges due to the palace’s living environment.
• Blenheim Palace aims to make exhibitions accessible and engaging for all visitors.
• Future projects will focus on immersive experiences to enhance visitor understanding of history.
• The palace’s collection includes unique items that reflect its rich heritage and history.
• Carmen Alvarez’s journey from welcome team supervisor to conservation manager showcases the importance of passion and dedication in heritage conservation.

Sound Bites

1. The Lost Dress Discovery (26:15-26:45)“Everyone thought it was lost, but it was in there all along. Just everyone was picturing it white. And because of course the silk with the time and damage, light damage and everything has turned that ivory color… So I found the lost dress. So for me that is something that I hope to be remembered by.”

2. The Reused Coronation Gown (5:53-6:10)“After the war, the country was coming out, the clothes rationing. So she didn’t want to spend too much money on new garments and everything around it. So she decided to repurpose and reuse what was worn by Consuelo Vanderbilt in 1911 and worn twice.”

3. Conservation Challenges (8:08-8:25)“We will never be a museum. We are a living space. So as much as you want to control the environment, environmental levels, like the temperature, humidity, the light levels… When it’s hot, we need to open windows.”

4. The “Angriest Curator” Method (15:12-15:19)“Normally people say that the best way of conserving things is having the angriest curator shouting at people. So maybe that helps as well.”

5. First Thing After Closing (28:43-28:50)“The first thing, hoovering, to be 100% honest. This is so important, actually. The guides… they grab the hoovers and they hoover the whole palace.”

6. Winston’s Best Decisions (35:53-36:05)“He said that he made the two best decisions of his life, that Blenheim would want to be born and the other one to marry, because he proposed to Clementine, his wife, at the Temple of Diana at Blenheim Palace.”

7. Heritage Belongs to Everyone (39:04-39:15)“I’m a believer that heritage does not belong to one single person or a group of people. Heritage is something that is a witness of the past, of the history of a group, a nation.”

8. The Roof Reality Check (40:28-41:03)“You walk into the building and you think, my God, this place is incredible. It’s so well preserved… But you would never know how many buckets were holding the leaks, the water filtration coming from the actual roof.”

9. The Strong 10th Duchess (11:52-12:05)“It’s funny because her husband wrote that she was a female general while he was only a captain. I think that represents her character. She was very much involved with the family, with the local community, with the charity.”

10. Making History Accessible (45:27-45:40)“We want to do it in a way that we know our guests are gonna enjoy… how can we share the history of Blenheim in different ways. Rather than a printed board, let’s do it in a different way.”

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Blenheim Palace and Carmen Alvarez
• 02:51 The Ladies of Blenheim Exhibition
• 05:39 Challenges in Conserving Historical Garments
• 08:50 Environmental Control in Heritage Conservation
• 11:35 The Meet the Collections Experience
• 14:33 Conservation of Tapestries at Blenheim
• 17:44 Carmen Alvarez’s Journey at Blenheim Palace
• 20:39 Unexpected Discoveries in the Collection
• 25:34 Rediscovering Lost Treasures
• 27:13 A Day in the Life at Blenheim Palace
• 29:23 Behind Closed Doors: Life After Hours
• 30:28 75 Years of Public Access: A Conservation Journey
• 33:35 Unique Treasures of Blenheim Palace
• 36:03 Winston Churchill’s Legacy at Blenheim
• 38:48 The Significance of UNESCO World Heritage Status
• 40:04 The Roof Project: A Major Conservation Effort
• 44:22 Future Projects and Visitor Experiences
• 47:54 anglotopia-podcast-outro.mp4

Video Version