CEO of UPG Sonny Gowans is on the board of trustees at Blenheim Palace, giving the team the unique opportunity to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the grandest stately homes in the UK.

Located in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, it was built between 1705 and 1722 as a gift from Queen Anne to John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, in recognition of his military victory over the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession.

The palace was designed by architect Sir John Vanbrugh in the English Baroque style and faced challenges during its construction due to political conflicts and financial disputes. It became the principal residence of the Dukes of Marlborough. Notably, Blenheim Palace was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill in 1874, who was a grandson of the 7th Duke of Marlborough.

The estate remains the private home of the Marlborough family and is currently managed under a mix of private ownership and trust arrangements.