Currently currently celebrating 500 years of history, Althorp is a reminder that history is made every day.
On Saturday I visited another "stately home" as they're known here—this one rather more stately than most, as it's the seat of Earl Spencer. As always, visiting these places isn't just an opportunity to ohh and ahh over the fancy furnishings. It's a visit through history, and for me, another thread in the rich tapestry I'm slowly piecing together during my time here. Everywhere I go, more pieces come together—a portrait, or a painting reminds me of something I've seen before.
Althorp is a close cousin to Blenheim Palace, where the Churchills live—yes, that Churchill. John Churchill was the first Duke of Marlborough, and an ancestor of the Spencers of Althorp. If John Churchill hadn't defeated the Sun King at the Battle of Blenheim, we might all be speaking French. Charles Spencer, the current Earl, has written a book about the battle (which I wrote about here).
While the Churchills are probably the most famous family in England (going back further than the upstart Windsors), the Spencers aren't far behind. One of the Spencers is memorialized at Althorp—you might remember her funeral, watched by millions all over the world.
The Diana Memorial is a peaceful place. Ironically, for a woman who was pursued by the press her whole adult life, her final resting place is an island of solitude—literally. A quiet path meanders down to the pond, which is shared by ducks and geese.
There's an exhibit celebrating Diana's life at Althorp, including artifacts from her childhood and some of her dresses, as well as the specially fitted outfit she wore as she inspected landmine fields as part of her humanitarian work.
Althorp is located about an hour north of London, near Northampton. As I passed by the entrance gates, I remembered when I'd seen them before: after the funeral of Diana 11 years ago, when the hearse was filmed on its route from Westminster Abbey, being bombarded with bouquets tossed by mourners.
Just another day in history.
See below for more photos.
The island where Princess Di rests.
Still flowers being tossed her way.
Not-quite-symmetrical Althorp is the country estate of the Spencers. Their city home is even more prime real estate, backing up to Green Park in London.
