Longwood is now a reconstruction of the house as it was in the last year of Napoleon’s life. Unfortunately the South American termite arrived on the island many years ago and has subsequently chewed its way through almost all the timber used in buildings across the island.
The Honorary French Consul is committed to an ongoing programme of restorative work both at Longwood and at the pavilion at the Briars - work which also extends into the gardens in order to recreate them as
The billiard table at Longwood today.
This is the billiard table upon which Napoleon played his few games against Betsy Balcombe during the early days of his stay at Longwood. More importantly it would also provide the surface for his campaign maps which would be laid out whilst he dictated his memoirs to his staff. In May 1821, upon his death, it would also become his autopsy table.
Around this table medical men representing both the British Government and Napoleon’s suite would carry out the final battle over Napoleon’s image. The British attempted to show that he had died of a natural illness whilst the French had a suggestion that his death had been in part the result of wilful neglect on the part of the English establishment, inserted into Antommarchi’s final independent autopsy report.
Those of you who are interested in visiting the island need to know that it can only be done by travelling to Cape Town in South Africa and then transferring to the RMS St Helena - which as far as I’m aware is the last Royal Mail ship operating anywhere in the world. Its a great six day voyage retracing the route of the great East Indamen and the warships of the Royal Navy’s Cape Squadron of those times.
The proposed airport is no longer a going concern as the credit crunch has resulted in the project being shelved.
About the book: “A fresh study of Napoleon’s last years as a captive on St Helena as seen through the eyes of the Britons around him. ”
Paul Brunyee is a former Territorial Army infantry officer. He is the membership Secretary for the Association of Friends of the Waterloo Committee and a member of the educational sub-committee of the Waterloo 200 group. He has featured on the BBC programme, The History Detectives and visited the island of St Helena which was invaluable for his fresh insight into Napoleon’s life as a captive.
