Wednesday 3 June 2015

The Brunswick House Ball

I've always been fascinated by the age and origin of the building which we inhabit. The Duke of Brunswick, after whom the house is named, is a figure of particular interest, and as we approach the 200th anniversary of his death, we've decided to throw a little party in his honour.




We're taking over the whole house for a riotous evening of feasting, dancing & drinking. It's in memory of the Duke, and all the others who fell at the battle of Quatre Bras. There'll be a we'll be pouring drinks and serving canapés at the reception, from which guests will be led to table, and served a three course feast of historic dishes, including of course Beef Wellington, with much wine poured, and a talk from the historian Count Adam Zamoyski. We'll all then be piling downstairs to the ballroom for cocktails, dancing, and much carousing into the wee hours.



This June will mark 200 years since Napoleon’s defeat by Wellington at the
Battle of Waterloo.

To celebrate this bloody but compelling period in our history we will be re-creating the infamous ball that took place in Brussels, hosted by the Duchess of Richmond, just three days before the great victory at Waterloo.

The Ball in Brussels was thought to be a tactical display of strength on the part of Wellington – though it was to be the last show of frivolity for most of the Duchess’ illustrious guest list, as they were to be called to fight later that night:

“When the duke [of Wellington] arrived, rather late, at the ball, I was dancing, but at once went up to him to ask about the rumors. He said very gravely, "Yes, they are true; we are off to-morrow." This terrible news was circulated directly, and while some of the officers hurried away, others remained at the ball, and actually had not time to change their clothes, but fought in evening costume.”

from the diary of Dowager Lady De Ros, daughter of the Duchess of Richmond

Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbütte (also known as the Black Duke), owner of Brunswick House at the time, where our modern day ball will take place, was present at what has since been called “the most famous ball in history”. He died the following day at the Battle of Quatre Bras, along with over half of the Ball’s attendees.

The following day Wellington’s troops retreated to England where they, in a thrilling and unexpected climax to the war, defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.

Byron was to write about the dramatic turn of events in ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’, contrasting the glamour of the ball with the atrocity of the subsequent battles:

Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro,
And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress,
And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago
Blushed at the praise of their own loveliness;
And there were sudden partings, such as press
The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs
Which ne’er might be repeated; who could guess
If ever more should meet those mutual eyes,
Since upon night so sweet such awful morn could rise!

FOUND Productions, Jackson Boxer and the How to Academy Present

The Brunswick House Ball



photo by the wonderful Tim ClerkenwellBoyEC1