Blenheim Palace Launches Sign a Slate Campaign 

Blenheim Palace is giving the general public a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leave their 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 £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.

Sign a Slate

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.”

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