Blenheim Palace Case Study
We have worked along with Blenheim Palace over the last four years and each year they have added another of our services to their property. They have now completed the whole package and recently achieved the Silver Award for Accessibility and Inclusion from Beautiful South.
Alice Bennett, from the team at Blenheim Palace, says “We are so privileged and pleased with the work we have done with Heritage Interpreters over the years. From BSL training for staff, BSL phrase videos, and access videos, to making BSL monthly tours a permanent feature in our calendar—their collaborative approach has enabled us to truly support the Deaf community and learn more about our guests’ needs. It has been an absolute pleasure working with them, and we are excited to continue this partnership into 2026.”
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Here are some highlights from the past few years:
Deaf Awareness Courses
Blenheim Palace have run four Deaf Awareness courses every year for the past three years. Some of their front-of house staff are able to greet their Deaf visitors and give some basic information in sign language. Some staff were inspired by the course and went on to learn more sign language at local colleges.
British Sign Language Interpreted Tours and Events
We interpret the monthly Interpreted Palace and Garden tours in British Sign Language at Blenheim. We also work along with them in organizing special Interpreted events held at the Palace, for example the BSL Interpreted joust is held every year.
Deaf-Led Tours
During 2025 we assisted Blenheim in curating a Deaf-led tour of the Palace and a special roof-top tour! There have been four tours in total, with many more Deaf-led tours of other special exhibitions to come in 2026. These tours have given access to the Heritage of Blenheim to over 40 Deaf visitors led by qualified Deaf Tour guide, John Wilson.
Marketing and Media
We have produced many short British Sign Language Video adverts to market the tours and events arranged for Deaf people at Blenheim Palace. We are, at present, working on a digital video guide to teach Blenheim's history in Sign Language via an app.
American Sign Language Tours
​Blenheim Palace has hosted a number of Deaf groups from America. The general Palace tour was translated from the Tour guide into British Sign Language and then translated again into American Sign Language by Himel Chowdhury, Tour Leader of 'Hands On Travel' , a Deaf-owned and operated Travel company.
Deaf Oxfordshire
​Blenheim Palace invites the local Oxfordshire Deaf Community group to come to the Palace every month. Alexy Dury, a Deaf, BSL user and the facilitator of 'Deaf Oxfordshire' helps to promote and organize this offer.
We can put you in contact with a Deaf person local to your property to offer a similar service.
