Marlborough House

An exterior view of the classical frontage of Marlborough House, with promenading male and female figures in the foreground. Built by Christopher Wren the Younger (under the supervision of his father) in 1709-11, for the 1st Duchess of Marlborough. The house was "Strong, plain, convenient, and with no resemblance to anything at Blenheim" according to the Duchess's wishes. The house was built of red Dutch bricks, brought to England as ballast in the troop transports that had carried soldiers for the Duke's army in Holland. Sarah herself supervised the completion of the house after dismissing Wren, because she felt that the contractors took advantage of him. In 1733 she tried to improve access to the house by making a new drive from the front entrance to Pall Mall but Robert Walpole, a bitter political rival, bought the leases of the houses there and obstructed the new gateway to spite her. The blocked up arch can still be seen. It was at the London house that Sarah spent much of her long widowhood beginning in 1722 and it was there that she died in 1744. During an early 1770's renovation, Sir William Chambers added a third story and put in marble fireplaces. The Dukes of Marlborough occupied the house until 1817 when the land reverted to the crown. Following the marriage of Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Prince Regent, to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1816, Marlborough House was give to the young couple. The house was being readied for the family to move into for the winter season of 1817-1818, but tragically Princess Charlotte died in childbirth before the house was ready. Prince Leopold used Marlborough House until he became King of the Belgians in 1831. In that year, King William IV came to the throne and Parliament provided that his consort Queen Adelaide should have Marlborough House for life in the event of her widowhood. Marlborough House is now used by the British government as a Commonwealth Centre.