Isaac took part in a one-week curatorial research micro-internship in December 2023, conducted at Blenheim Palace in partnership with the Oxford University Heritage Network.
For a week in December 2023, I had the amazing opportunity to complete an internship at Blenheim Palace! I found out about the role from the Crankstart Internship Office, who offered great advice for ensuring that my application was as competitive as possible. I was drawn to the position because it seemed like a brilliant opportunity to explore my interests in history, and gain insight into how these can be applied in a professional environment. As a second year student I’m increasingly considering my options beyond graduation. This week at Blenheim opened my eyes to the range of career paths available to history graduates, and has left me enthused about the heritage sector!
My work focused on supporting an ongoing project about utilising the Palace’s archival material in order to inform better approaches to conservation. The week began with a private tour of the Palace, which was a really useful chance to get to know the built heritage that I would spend the next few days researching. A particular highlight of the tour was being shown the recently restored Orangery roof and learning about the decision-making process which goes into such a project. The project was completed in 2023 and the Orangery’s 19th century glass roof, which had come to the end of its life, was replaced with a timber and slate structure closer to what the original roof would have looked like. The Palace’s archives, on which I was working with another intern, were a key source for learning about the design and material composition of the original roof, information which could then inform the direction of the restoration project. I loved learning about how archives could play a part in restoration work, and in turn I gained a new appreciation of the importance of the project which I was supporting for the week.
The next few days after the tour were focused on ‘getting into the boxes’ of the large collection of historic documents from the Palace’s previous architect. Working alongside another intern we set about creating a new system of organisation which would best help future conservation work. We sorted the material by location, creating a resource which could be consulted whenever future decisions are made about conservation in specific areas of the Palace and its grounds. It was great to gain experience in the archives and to learn about a crucial part of historical research, skills which will really help in the final year of my degree. I was also able to hone my communication skills, being required to justify our new organisational system to Blenheim’s built heritage team as well as ensure that it would be accessible to future interns continuing the project.
The week was a unique opportunity to gain insight into the roles of archivists as well as the crucial work which goes on behind the scenes in conserving important historic sites. The team at Blenheim were all incredibly kind and I really felt as though my work was having an impact! I’m grateful to the amazing people at both Blenheim Palace and the Crankstart Internship Office for all their support, and I would highly encourage other Crankstart Scholars to take advantage of similar opportunities!
Isaac Lethbridge is a second-year history student at Lady Margaret Hall. He is particularly interested in modern British history and is fascinated by the role played by heritage sites in bringing the past alive and supporting historical research.
Image credit: Isaac Lethbridge
Find out more about the TORCH Heritage Programme here.
