Leave your mark on history: Blenheim Palace launches Sign a Slate campaign
Blenheim Palace is giving the general public a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leave their own mark on history by sponsoring a piece of its iconic roof.
Members of the public are being invited to sign a roof slate in exchange for a donation to support the monumental £12 million roof restoration project at Britain’s Greatest Palace.
As an independent charitable trust, Blenheim Palace relies on ticket sales and donations to generate income to conserve and preserve the World Heritage Site and wider estate, which costs millions of pounds each year. Donations from charitable trusts, foundations and individuals have become essential to helping fund the Palace’s 10-year, £40 million conservation plans, which include the recent roof repairs, as well as the protection of priceless art and tapestries.
By signing a slate, donors will be helping to preserve the Palace’s historic architecture and safeguard its heritage for future generations, while having their name in situ for centuries to come.
Roof repairs began in early 2025 after a combination of age, climate change and penetration from rainfall led to the declining state of the roof, the attic timbers and ceilings below. The Palace received a £250,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to conserve two nationally significant Baroque paintings by Sir James Thornhill and Louis Laguerre in the Great Hall and Saloon – both priceless artworks at risk of being lost forever if the work was not carried out.
There are three donation packages to choose from:
- In exchange for a £100 donation, your name will be added to a Welsh slate reinstalled on the Palace roof, inclusion on a digital donor wall and an official certificate
- A £250 donation includes these benefits plus an invitation to sign your slate in person
- A donation of £1,000 includes the opportunity to decorate a whole slate with artwork or a personal message plus an invitation to the official ‘topping out’ ceremony in March
International giving options and corporate sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Saira Uppal, Director of Philanthropy at Blenheim Palace, said: “By signing a roof slate, you’ll not only be writing your own name into Blenheim Palace’s illustrious history, but also helping to protect priceless treasures, ensuring a legacy for generations to come. Every name will tell a story – whether it’s adding your own name in honour of a fond experience at Blenheim Palace, gifting a friend or family member their own tile, or leaving a message in memory of a loved one, this is a special opportunity to leave a lasting mark on one of the country’s most significant buildings.”
Established in 2016 as a separate charity, the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation receives no government funding, therefore all funds raised from admissions charges and charitable donations contribute to the day-to-day running of the Palace and maintaining its World Heritage status.
The Foundation offers a variety of ways to contribute to the Palace’s lasting legacy through monetary donations on a one-off, monthly or annual basis, or by remembering Blenheim Palace in your will. Every contribution, big or small, goes towards restoration and conservation projects to preserve the Palace and its historic artefacts, restore its landscapes, protect wildlife, and provide educational opportunities and skills development across the local community.
For more information about Blenheim Palace and the Sign a Slate campaign, visit www.blenheimpalace.com/support-us/sign-a-slate/.
To find out more about other ways to donate to Blenheim Palace, visit https://www.blenheimpalace.com/support-us/.