Oxford Fire Crew Helps Remove Palace Flagpole at Blenheim Palace

The removal of the flagpole is part of a £2m conservation project of the Palace’s 18^th century Orangery – the first of its kind at a Grade 1 Listed World Heritage Site.

To combat the effects of climate change the Orangery’s glass ceiling is being removed and replaced with a timber and slate structure in the spirit of Vanbrugh’s original design.

The fire crew used the task as an exercise in using a hydraulic platform at a historic building.

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service posted on social media: “This was a great opportunity for firefighters to maintain their skills with the hydraulic platform, working in unfamiliar environments around an historic and extremely prestigious heritage building within Oxfordshire.”

The wooden flagpole was previously reduced in height by around two metres because it was unsafe. 

It was carefully removed in small sections due to health and safety and will be retained at Blenheim while a decision is made as to what use it can be put to.

The glass roof was installed after a fire broke out in an adjacent bakery and damaged the original roof structure in 1861.

“We are restoring the Orangery to what we understand to be its original form, based on research and pre-fire evidence remaining on site,” said Kelly Whitton, Head of Built Heritage at Blenheim Palace.

“The 19th century glass roof has come to the end of its life, and it is time to make a serious change.  Due to the pressures of climate change and noticeable temperature swings, we are proposing to return the roof back to slate.

“Slate combined with modern insulation will be a far more effective insulator than glass, saving energy and helping Blenheim reach its green goals,” she added.

Morwenna Slade, Head of Historic Building Climate Change Adaptation at Historic England, said: “Thoughtful projects such as this demonstrate how conservation can be used to respond to the impacts of climate change, forming positive and proactive solutions. 

“Climate change presents a range of challenges to the continued care and use of our historic buildings and sites. Blenheim’s plans for the Orangery are commendable – they successfully combine the need for change with the awareness of climate resilience,” she added.

A new low maintenance, full-size composite flagpole will be returned to its original location at the end of the project, in the autumn.