| desmondo | 24 Jan 2014 2:38 p.m. PST |
There are many models of the farmhouse on the market in many scales. In honesty the differences between them all is quite amazing. One thing that did strike me was that not a single one has shuttered windows. I find that odd, especially with so many windows n the ground floor. I would have thought they would all have them for security. Did the farm have shuttered windows, but they were used as firewood by the troops stationed there ? DCDinUK |
 deadhead  | 24 Jan 2014 3:12 p.m. PST |
Most models of LHS are far smaller than the real thing; inevitably, to be practical for wargamers' tables. See the aerial views in Adkins' Companion or Weller's Wellington at Waterloo. Models from the Airfix kit to the best Resin efforts at least look right Not on the scale of Hougoumont Chateau though. Like HC, much of the perimeter of LHS was of no use for defensive fire. LHS walls did not have the small loopholes of Hougoumont (which may have predated 1815)….just some big holes knocked through which were as much use to the attacker as defender. Maybe some tiles out of the roof and lads on the piggery, to use their Baker's. Always amazes me how little Baring did to fortify the place. I accept he lost his pioneers to HC. Maybe he did not realise he would have to stay there throughout, early that morning (often suggested). But could they not have reblocked that gate with something? Was there really no spare ammo supply for a siege? That abatis was pathetic on the chausee. What were they doing all morning????? His men fought like lions, but were they led by donkeys? Sorry, the point was shuttered windows. Not for security! They are for bad weather and nothing more. The walls are to keep the bad guys out and LHS walls are still impressive. No shutters on any other nearby buildings in contemporary prints (but that is hardly reliable) |
| desmondo | 24 Jan 2014 4:27 p.m. PST |
Thanks. It just struck me as odd, but I have read that parts of the farmhouse were used for firewood ( part of the main gate ?) and this may be why none are ever shown on sketches from that period. On the other hand, may e it never had any! |
| Peeler | 24 Jan 2014 4:46 p.m. PST |
I've read that the larger rear gate, on the opposite side of LHS to the road, was used for firewood the night before. It is quite a large archway & was apparently part blocked up with a small wagon on the day. |
| deadhead | 25 Jan 2014 10:43 a.m. PST |
Indeed every source tells us that larger back gate/door was burnt. Not sure whether KGL light were in there overnight pre the battle, but someone certainly was daft enough. I can find no pictures of shutters on any building, in a large collection of downloaded prints of local buildings that survived the battle relatively unscathed….unless they were all burnt for firewood of course! Anyway. If you are modelling LHS for the battle on the 18th….most you might need is some empty hinges! |
| Peeler | 25 Jan 2014 10:55 a.m. PST |
'empty hinges' – chuckle! What about the dovecote (?) windows on the main farm house building roof? I've heard both versions, that they were there on the day & that they were added later. |
| deadhead | 26 Jan 2014 3:09 a.m. PST |
You may well know this as a brilliant resource for pics of LHS through the years. link Everything suggests windows to the upper floor rather than dovecotes. The upper floors must be very dark these days! Gradually these upper tiny "windows?" dropped from four, to one for years and now none. |
| deadhead | 26 Jan 2014 3:29 a.m. PST |
This is just a chapter from another wonderful resource on the battle. See reference 17 I think it was……dormer windows. PDF link |
| desmondo | 26 Jan 2014 8:11 a.m. PST |
deadhead – I like the comment on the hinges…yes you have solved the problem !! |
| deadhead | 26 Jan 2014 2:01 p.m. PST |
Not sure I have. How much does LHS really matter? Answer…..underestimated! Shutters or not and overlooked as held by a bunch of foreigners LHS was more important than Hougoumont in Wellington's defence plans…Discuss….. H falls as the back gate is broken in…so what? LHS falls during d'Erlon's I Corps attack……WOW. I'd rather have seen the back door of LHS closed than Grahame's lads shutting the gates at Hougoumont. Might be worth exploring??????? PS the windows were barred it seems……. |
| Musketier | 27 Jan 2014 7:06 a.m. PST |
La Haye Sainte is private property today, its owners armed and adverse to visitors, so no spot-check possible I'm afraid. Besides, it may well have changed in such details over 200 years. Barred windows do occur in older farmhouses locally, but usually only for outside ones, or those too small or high up for shutters. My educated guess is that shutters, being easily removed, would have been burned after the furniture, and before the lads set onto the gates… |
