Archaeology@Waterloo

Four Sweet Chestnut Trees at Hougoumont

 

Four Sweet Chestnut trees (Castenea sativa) stand to the south of the southern gate of Hougoumont Farm. Two are now dead and two still living. The bases are riddled with holes which have often been assumed to be the result of bullets from the battle entering the trunks. The age of the trees is often in question as is the question of what the holes represent. Regarding the age and some of the holes, the following quote is useful...

 

'Much has been written about the three chestnut trees standing, though dead, on the back of the farm of Hougoumont. Today we can say that they have indeed witnessed the battles of 1815. In 2005, in fact, dendrochronology laboratory of the University of Liege has, based on several core samples, estimate the date of planting. It took place between 1675 and 1775. While the margin is large ... but the birth goes well and truly before 1815 (http://napoleonbonaparte.be/legendes/#Leschâtaigniers au moins tricentenaires d’Hougoumont).

 

It is highly likely that over the years several people have shot at the trees with a variety of guns and introduced a great deal of lead into the trunks. When the trees were younger, at the time of the battle, ball shot and shrapnel may well have entered the wood. These should still be buried deep inside the trees as the growth rings were added. Later shots will be nearer the surface. The trees are now several metres in circumference. When the trees are finally felled of simply collapse, a thourough examination of their timber should take place. Only then will an accurate determination of how many original fragments of the great battle, which the trees witnessed, will become clear.