Explore the Collections

A childhood in exile
Napoleon III was born Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte on 20 April 1808.  He was Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew and godson, his father was King Louis of Holland (Bonaparte’s younger brother) and his mother was Bonaparte’s step daughter, Hortense.

Elected President 1848
He was 44 years old but his ambition to rule France had become a reality – seemingly against all odds. Unfortunately the constitution limited him to one term in office.

Once Emperor, Napoleon needed an Empress and an heir.
He had many illegitimate sons but he needed a legitimate one. He had many mistresses including Harriet Howard but none were suitable as consorts. The Empress Eugenie and then the birth of the Prince Imperial gave France their Imperial family.

The Imperial Family
There were Imperial residents at Camden Place from late 1870 until 1881. The Empress and Prince Imperial took up residence in 1870 and Napoleon joined them in March 1871.

The creation of a golf club
Following the death of Nathanial Strode Camden Place and its estate went to auction.

William Camden – the first resident
In the early 1600’s life in London was unpleasant. Fear of plagues and the poor air quality was driving the middle classes to look for homes in healthier locations. Chislehurst was an ideal location, just 12 miles from the City and even closer to the Royal Court at Greenwich. One such person was William Camden who built himself a house on the current site of Camden Place in 1609.

English cartoons produced mainly in Punch cover the span of Napoleon’s political career. In France strict censorship prevented caricatures until the defeat of Sedan. The outpouring of satirical representations of he fallen Second Empire includes some cruel and ugly depictions of the Imperial family and their supporters. The Empress comes in for particularly cruel treatment.

Produced for the English market these figures were purchased as home decorations, often to sit on the mantlepiece. Made from a common mould, differences in colouring and finishing make each piece unique.

There are over 20 pieces in our flatback collection, part of the Sygrave Collection.

Carte de Visites were made by the million. Initially they were portraits but later used works of art, scenes, celebrities and fashionably attired women. Napoleon lll and the Imperial family were key influencers helping make the craze of carte de visites  fashionable.