Vanbrugh's Grand Bridge at Blenheim Palace in winter (2025)

Vanbrugh’s Grand Bridge stands within the landscaped parkland of Blenheim Palace near Woodstock, Oxfordshire, spanning the River Glyme and forming a central feature of the estate. Against the wishes of the first duchess, Sir John Vanbrugh was determined to build a monumental structure that complements the vast Blenheim Palace. Rather idiosyncratically the bridge houses more than 30 rooms, many now submerged in the lake. Winter sunlight dramatically emphasises the bridge's scale.