High standards – first new flagpole for 200 years installed at Blenheim Palace

The composite flagpole, which weighs 350kg and incorporates a lightning conductor, was built by Isle of Wight based Apex Composites, an industry leader in manufacturing carbon fibre composite products for a range of uses, including the masts for tallships.

Chris Monaghan, Clerk of Works at Blenheim Palace, commented: “It’s been an enormous challenge but a rewarding one, and a real team effort from the Blenheim Palace Built Heritage team, Apex Composites, Savvy Construction, and Oxfordshire Fire Service, who we called in to remove the old flagpole back in January.

“As well as topping the new flagpole with a 24 carat gilded coronet, we’ve fitted it with a lightning conductor – this is an added safety level in the light of current climate changes. Anyone who read about the recent explosion at the Cassington AD Facility near Oxford will be all too aware of the dangers of lightning strikes.

“Our aim is to have the old flagpole’s top section on display in the Restoration Room, and give the rest a new lease of life by recycling it somehow.”

Other flags which fly at Blenheim Palace include the Union Jack, St George’s Cross and a larger version of the Marlborough crest standard, which is displayed to commemorate special family occasions such as births and marriages.