It later came to light that Strode received 900,000 francs from the French Civil list in 18. Strode claimed to have had a premonition that a home in England would one day be needed by the Emperor. The fact is that whilst Emily was indeed born there, her family left the house when she was three years old. The connection with the house appears to derive from his friendship with Emily Rowles, who received gifts from Louis-Napoleon amidst talk of engagement. Strode was a trustee for Harriette Howard, who became a long-term mistress and friend of Napoleon’s, supporting and financing his political campaigns and ambitions, as well as bringing up two of his illegitimate sons.Ī number of historians claim Louis-Napoleon had visited Chislehurst, though there is no evidence for this. Nathaniel Strode knew Louis-Napoleon from his days in London during his exile in the 1830s and 40s. Why did the Imperial family end up at Camden Place? In the rear a replica of the Temple found at St Cloud had been added by architect James ‘Arthenian’ Stuart in the 1760s.

Strode added murals and art works featuring French and Flemish artists and the house was furnished for French taste. A watercolour on the left shows the Grand Salon in the Chateau de Bercy and the dining room at Camden Place today is on the right. The panelling remains intact today (though in need of some conservation) and is considered to be one of the best examples of French craftsmanship of the period in England. Strode added a new dining wing, panelling for it came from the Château de Bercy at a price of 12,000 francs. In 1860, a banker Nathaniel Strode purchased Camden Place for £30,000 and set about transforming it from a Georgian country house to a “French chateau”. Mystery surrounds how the family ended up at Camden Place. And Napoleon had spies watching the spies. The Republicans posted spies up a windmill on the edge of the property to report on visitors. Plans to regain the throne were debated in its rooms.

The French flag flew, they were visited by Royalty including Queen Victoria and Czar Alexander II as well as politicians from across Europe. This quiet country town in Kent was to become the center of the French Court in exile over the coming years. For the Imperial family their close friendship with Queen Victoria was also a factor, as was the proximity to France.

Political refugees were welcomed in England and allowed freedom of movement and speech.

Napoleon the third