Past Talks
House Arrest in Woodstock
Date: 20th October 2025
Speaker: Pete Seaward
Pete Seaward introduced his work with a wide selection of captivating photographs taken around the world as part of his role as a commercial photographer for advertising campaigns. He regards photography as ‘drawing with light’.
He identified Robert Doisneau (1912-1994), a French street photographer, as his hero. However, it was the pioneering work of Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877) that inspired him to become a photographer. In 1835, Fox Talbot produced the first paper negative of a lattice window in Laycock, where he was based.
Pete stated that, at the outset of his career, working with large, cumbersome cameras, using expensive film, encouraged him to carefully consider each photograph. Current college students are trained to use non-digital cameras to develop this discipline.
Elliott Erwitt (1928-2023), a French-born American advertising and documentary photographer, influenced Pete with his use of photos of absurd situations within everyday settings.
Pete has a long-standing association with Blenheim Palace, working to capture the palace, its grounds and wildlife as part of a campaign to market it as a destination.
The palace, Britain’s only non-royal palace, was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh and built between 1705 & 1722. It was a reward to the 1st Duke of Marlborough for his military triumphs in the War of the Spanish Succession, culminating in the Battle of Blenheim.
The dredging of the lake was fully documented in photos and drone footage. The works ensured the depth of the lake was increased whilst the eco-system was improved for the local flora and fauna. Pete had the opportunity to inspect and record the interior of the Grand Bridge: a reed-cutting boat was discovered, together with the remains of the original building on the site.
The estate of 2000 acres includes ancient woodland and was used as a hunting ground, often attracting royalty. A veteran oak tree from 970AD exists.
In 2018, a heatwave exposed the remains of an 18th century garden, and this has been captured on aerial photographs.
The manor house at Woodstock was originally built by Henry I. The park around the house was enclosed by a stone wall, which confined his menagerie. Hunting and jousting were popular pursuits and the location had the advantage of avoiding plague-ridden London. It became a favourite of Henry VIII.
In May 1554, 20-year-old Princess Elizabeth was placed under house arrest at Woodstock Manor for allegedly plotting against her half-sister, Queen Mary I. She remained there for nearly a year, guarded by 100-200 soldiers, whose principal task was to protect her from assassination. Lidar has revealed the extent of their barracks. On her release, she travelled to her childhood home at Hatfield.
Sally James