THIS year’s Blenheim Palace Literary Festival came to an end yesterday with the appearance of historian Peter Snow.

Mr Snow appeared at the historic palace to talk about his new book When Britain Burned the White House, about the War of 1812 that saw America and Britain go to battle.

His was just one of a number of high-profile figures to appear in Woodstock over the past four days, including former Prime Minister Sir John Major, crime writer Ruth Rendell, former newspaper editor Sir Max Hastings and chef Rick Stein.

Festival deputy chairman Jill Dunsmore said: “We have had some superb audiences.

“John Major’s lecture was absolutely packed and Max Hastings had a huge audience.”