4 & 5. North Gate at Hougoumont, Waterloo - 11 Sept 1900 | Glass Plates
Glass plates 4 and 5 are unusual as they both show the same location, and are the first to give some clue as to who exactly is making this journey. Moreover, these are the last two photographs of the collection taken at Waterloo, and the specific location is one of the most significant on the former battlefield when it came to the outcome: the north gate at Hougoumont.
Glass plate 4 shows a man leaning against a tree guarding the threshold to the farm and one-time fortress. Although we cannot know the reason for posing beside the tree, it is possible that the photographer believed it was a survivor of the battle because the tree is treated as central to the composition (although I can’t be certain on this). A little research online – a privilege that those in 1900 would have lacked – shows that few of the trees immediately surrounding the farm actually survived the battle. The survivors were said to be a set of chestnuts on the south side – only one of which still stands today. In any case, this tree in the north would have to be at least eighty-five years old to have witnessed the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, but as it is not pictured in earlier postcards of the gate, it appears that it is a tad young. Although it was too young for the battle, it can still be seen holding its post beside the gate today.
Glass plate 5 is slightly reframed with a man standing on the left-hand side of the gatepost. The north gate itself is central. Before the history of the north gate is explored, it is worth questioning the figures in both GP4 and GP5.
At first glance these figures do not appear to be different; both are men and both are wearing dark suits. Such was the fashion of the day. However, when the photograph is enlarged, their silhouettes, postures, and hats appear somewhat different (comparison below). It is perfectly reasonable to assume that there were two travellers, and perhaps by referring to the “unknown photographer” I am mistaking the work of a pair of “unknown photographers”. The reason for the singular – which I’ll continue to use – is that the glass plates were clearly listed and kept by one man. Nevertheless, as we move forward on the journey, it will be worth noting all the posed subjects in front of the camera to try to discover the identity of those behind it.
Whatever the case – photographer or photographers – it is now time to discuss why they would choose to pose beside the dilapidated north gate to Hougoumont farm.
Figure in GP 4
Figure in GP 5
Closing the North Gate at Waterloo
18th June 1815. The Château d'Hougoumont and its walled compound were under siege on three sides. French infantry, led by Napoleon’s brother, Prince Jerome, had approached from the wooded south of the farm and come to encroach on its eastern and western sides.
It was a dire situation for the besieged British, who were under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel James Macdonell of the Coldstream Guards. There was only one point of entry where they could be resupplied and receive reinforcements – the north gate.
It was to this north gate that a small French force of around forty were sent. They were led by the axe wielding giant of an infantry officer, Sous-Lieutenant Legros – otherwise known as L’Enforceur. It is unclear if they had to force open the gate to gain entry, or if it had simply been left open by the British for resupplies. What we do know is that they charged into the courtyard to attempt to break through to the south gate to let in their comrades.
Surprised by the French soldiers now swarming into the compound, Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell recognised that they had to close the north gate to ensure no other troops could reinforce them. Fighting their way around the French soldiers, Macdonell, a group of officers, and Corporal James Graham managed to secure the gate before any more of the enemy could force their way inside.
With the gate closed, L’Enforceur and his men were trapped. A slaughter followed. The only French soldier spared was the drummer boy, no older than 12 years of age.
As Hougoumont was key to the strength of the British right flank, the farm’s capture could have led to the British defence falling apart as they waited for the Prussians to arrive. As such, the closing of the north gate at Hougoumont was considered by the Duke of Wellington as the single most decisive – win or lose – moment in the battle.
This dramatic scene became engrained in the British cultural memory of the battle. Three years after the above photographs were taken beside the north gate, Robert Gibbs unveiled his ‘Closing of the Gates at Hougoumont’ (1903), which is now on display in the National War Museum in Edinburgh.
More recently, through the efforts of Project Hougoumont, the farm was restored for the 200th anniversary of the battle. New gates built of solid English oak were installed, and a monument to the British who defended the farm was erected to immortalise the decisive moment when the north gates were closed.
‘Closing of the Gates at Hougoumont’ by Robert Gibb (1903)
Photo credit: National Museums Scotland
Onwards on the Journey
These two glass plates were the last to be taken at Waterloo by the unknown photographer. In total, five images make up the glass plates for 11th September 1900. As I have shown thus far with this project, each location pictured had clear historical significance to justify why a British traveller on the continent would visit. Whether that be the mighty Lion’s Mound that I examined in the first of these blogs, or the Gordon and Hanoverian monuments near La Haye Sainte farm, or the dramatic ruined chapel at Hougoumont, these glass plates open a window into two pasts: the past of the 1900 photographs and the past of the location which made it a draw for travellers.
Waterloo was just the beginning. What first struck me when I opened these dusty and discarded boxes of glass plates was the range of sights and monuments shown – each carefully dated. In these fading glass plates was a journey stretching from Waterloo to the mountains of Switzerland, and much in between. It is time we leave the battlefield behind and move further on this journey.
Next we travel onwards to the bustling city of Brussels…
References
Cornwell, Bernard, Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies and Three Battles (London: William Collins, 2014)
‘A Fallen Veteran of Waterloo’, Waterloo Uncovered (2021) <https://waterloouncovered.com/fallen-chestnut/>
‘Bravery at Waterloo: the button seller and the drummer boy’ by Andrew Swanston, History Extra (2016) <https://www.historyextra.com/period/georgian/bravery-at-waterloo-the-button-seller-and-the-drummer-boy/>
‘The North Gate’ by Martin Beddall, Martin Beddall (2015) <https://www.martinbeddall.com/the-north-gate/>
1900 Glass Plates: This project explores a series of glass plates from the year 1900 with the eventual goal of travelling the same route as the photographer. It will be a varied journey that will stretch from simple blog posts examining each photo to videos and more. This project is in collaboration with photographer Aleksandar Nenad Zecevic, who’ll be restoring the photographs to bring out details dimmed by time. More to follow.
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