The Cross Roads

It's been a while since I last posted, apologies! This does not mean that nothing has been happening with the project - far from it, the team and I have been very busy and progress is good. 

I've recently been working on the area around La Haye Sainte. The area North of the farm of la Haye Sainte to the crossroads is arguably the most tactically important part of the Waterloo battlefield. Control of La Haye Sainte gave the French a launchpad onto the British position. The farm, situated on the forward slope directly in front of the Allied main defensive position, was awkward for Wellington: it was too far forward to fit neatly into his reverse slope defensive plan and yet it would have been unconscionable to have left it undefended. 

 The farm was part of a broader series of features which must be described to unlock our understanding of the area. The farm was bounded to its south by the orchard and to the north by its garden. Towards the British line the road runs north towards the crossroads with a steep bank on its west side and to its east the sandpit. 

Above the sandpit was a thin hedge that petered out to the east. An elm tree grew at the south west corner of the crossroads. The track to Papelotte was lined with more hedging on both sides to the east of the crossroads, but with no hedging to the west down towards Hougoumont. 

 Contrary to the popular myth, the east-west track was not sunken and presented no obstacle to the attacking French cavalry. However, the bank on the Brussels chaussee was a real obstacle to any sideways movement by either side - it slowed down the pace of the Household Cavalry's counter-attack into D'Erlon's flank and it was a real challenge to any French cavalry spilling over to the east side of the battlefield. 

 The bank did however provide cover from fire and view for French infantry advancing north from La Haye Sainte. Finally, to the rear of the crossroads, Valette's cottage is shown - a mud hovel with a thatched roof. The Commanding Officer of the 1st/95th Rifles, Sir Andrew Barnard, used it as his headquarters the night before the battle.

We built the farm itself some years ago.  Now it sits within the broader farmland.

The crops are the usual teddy bear fur - I need an especially dense and short pile fur - it's both rare and expensive.

The ground view looking north, showing that the French could have no idea what awaited them on the reverse slope.

The view looking south.  The three squares to the left of the crossroads (Inniskillings, Glosters and Camerons) will be joined by the Cornwalls).  To the right can be seen the 8th KGL.  None of the squares are yet attached. 

Valette's cottage, modelled from Sibonne's second model.

More work needed on the road and banks.  The joins are too obvious.

Much snagging to do - the road is 'lifting'

Some detail in the garden at La Haye Sainte