Blenheim Palace

[trish251]

Hi David

That sounds a little sad and frustrating - I received excellent information from the archivists at Windsor - couldn't have been any nicer nor more helpful.

I've also had positive responses from public companies re their records - amazingly (and very pleasingly) some still employ archivists to look after their past records.

Trish

[Gigi]

I did contact the archivist at Blenheim Palace but unfortunately he was not able to tell me whether or not my William Hunt was at one time the "Head Gardener" or had ever worked there. Apparently they would have to go through the ledgers page by page to gather that information so a dead end I'm afraid!!

Gillian

[jamajo]

Hi Gillian,
             My Grandmother worked at the palace early 1900s as a maid or servant and like you i rang to try and get some info on this. I was also told they could not tell me anything, i even offered to make a donation. Very frustrating isnt it.

                                          Sue

[trish251]

Tis disappointing - I wonder if they will accept any help in indexing the ledgers? Perhaps it will be  done one day.

Trish

[Maggott]

The archive was opened years ago when David Green wrote an official history.  Otherwise nothing except the occasional coffee table book.  Attempts by locals to get their paws on the papers have all been brushed off.  The family seem interested in their Glorious Past but not in the nuts & bolts of local/family history - pity, but it's been so for ages.  Principal focus, especially of late, has been to market Blenheim as 'heritage'.  Which ain't the same as history.
Maggott

[DJFRENCH]

i have an ancestor...noted to have died Blenheim Park in 1783...... Richard Tollet ....so i have no chance of getting info 


Shame for all of us !!!!!!!!!!!!


debz

[Maggott]

The guy who died in Blenheim Park would probably have been buried in one of the parishes adjacent to the Park- Bladon, Combe, Long Hanborough-why not try Oxfordhsire RO?

Maggott

[DJFRENCH]

Hi Maggott , you are correct , he is buried in Woodstock, yes i should do that, i think he was a yeoman so i believe that he was "attached to the estate somehow.........

i really must look up what exactly a yeoman was and how it worked as i have recently found a will from 1756 which gives me the impression that the testator was one. unfortunately, he is not me ancestor... someone else's who i am helping 


Debz 

[behindthefrogs]

A yeoman was a small landowner, farmer, or a person of middle class engaged in agriculture.  He was usually regarded as being one rank below a gentleman.

Since very few people actually owned their own land he probably leased it from the estate.

David