de la maison de Napoleon

I recently had the opportunity to photograph Longwood House, Napoleon's much-hated residence during the later part of his exile. A fascinating place filled with a mixture of original Napoleonic treasures mixed with more recent acquisitions and reconstructions and with walls covered in 100's of illustrations of that time. Thanks to the Tourism Department and Michel Martineau for arranging and allowing access. I'll let the photographs speak for themselves.

Longwood House

Inside the reception room. Naopleon's deathbed to left, scene depicting his death on right. Original pool table through doors at rear

Napoleonic memorabilia - people were cashing in on Napoleon very soon after his death (even before in some cases). One of the many death masks made, a sketch made at the time of his death, "The Grave of Napoleon" concert and the dairy of an upholsterer from Longwood(?)

A cross-section through Napoleon's grave site. He was buried within six coffins made of tin, the second mahogany, the third and fourth lead, the fifth ebony, and the sixth oak

Napoleon's hat and coat

Napoleon's death bed and a bronze cast of his death mask. He had a habit of keeping the shutters closed when he was in a room to avoid the constant watching by English guards

The shutters of Longwood House, complete with viewing holes (lower left shutter) through which Napoleon is reported to have watched the races on Deadwood Plain

The interior courtyard of Longwood House. In foreground are the slabs that topped Napoleon's grave