Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-03-06
HOME FIT FOR A KING
Duchess Of Marlborough's New
Palace In London.
SoBLE MANSIONS VILLAS BESIDE IT

Cost of Blandford House, Being
Erected by the Duke In Mayfair, L.
Already 1880, 900 and End Of O.t-
lay L. Not In sight-Halls anA
Staircase All of Ma Yble.
The palace the Duke of Marlborough
Il building for himself In the heart Of
Mayfair recently began to emerge from
It's swaddling clothes Of scaffolding %
that 1t is possible to gain a first idea
Of its extent and magniicence, writes
the London correspondent Of the New
York World.
1t promises to be far and away the
finest example Of domestic architecture
provided for London In recent years.
Beside Its stately proportions the house
that the late Barney Barnato built for
himself in Park Lane, but never occu-
pied, is a mere glorified villa, while the
brownstone mansion erected by Alfred
Belt further up that avenue Of million
aires Is merely a stunted and dingy edi-
fee.
When 1t came to be question Of
having a town house, the duke deter
mined to have something appropriate
to the grandeur and dignity of his IT,
ties and descent, as well, Of course, as
his own position, or nothing at all.
Blandford House is a princely struc-
ture, princely In style. in position. and,
by all accounts, even more princely In
cost. 1t is stated that he paid 1880, 600
for the freehold site; 1920, 600 was the
original contract for the building, while
over 100000 has already been expend-
ed In furniture and decorations, though
this is by no means the end of the out
lay In that direction.
The house Is rectangular In shape,
and If it has defect it is that it is too
narrow for It's length. The front meas
ures 63 feet, while the side measures
100. Greater width was impossible In
view Of the site chosen, which has the
advantage Of having a street on all its
tour sides. Along the whole length Of
the side runs the picture gallery aud
ballroom, lighted by eleven stained
glass windows, with marble columns
supporting a richly carved ceiling The
main entrance Is ON Curzon street and
IN the left hand corner The entrance
hall is fairly wide space opening into
large hall, from which rises the main
sto Of IN zto tuu
are Of great width, and after the first
Xix steps are assembled broad gallery
b arrived at, from each side Of which
winds a double continuation of the
stairs, all of marble.
At the point on the stairway where
The high stained windows throw null
ticolored light over the mosaic floors
and marble columns the ceiling rises to
height of thirty feet, and 1t Is here
hat all the most magnificent carvings
will be introduced. Many inches have
oeen left in the walls for the reception
II statues, on which numbers of artists
Ire now at work.
There are fifty rooms in all. The
lukes writing room and study Ia on
the ground floor, to the right Of the
entrance. Next to it comes large and
perfectly circular morning room, with
three doors, while at the back, running
along from one end to the other, IL the
lining room and servery, with series
II lifts on the most approved American
principles, wherewith to convey all edl.
oles from the kitchens below. There
Are two drawing rooms Oh the first
1Oor, one at either end Of the house, 20
IS to have the sun or shade as the sum-
ner day advances.
From the picture gallery you can
have access to either. and a marble
oalustrade looks over the wide stair
hat seems designed at many parts to
contain coy seated corners for CONVEX.
iation after dinner. The most modern
appointments In billiard rooms, self
contained bath and bed rooms, lifts
md all other comforts are being pro-
'ided In a very thorough manner. and
he smaller important details Of design
II the fittings are all made especially
~ several Of the biggest firms in Amer.
ca.
The third floor is devoted to the nurs
cries, bed, bath and dressing rooms
Tor the young Marquis of Blandford
and his little brother, and there are
two large playr0oms where swings and
tther recreations may be freely en-