Heritage 1815: Statement on the sale of Gemioncourt Farm, Belgium

The committee for Heritage 1815 is pleased to release the following statement concerning the news that Gemioncourt Farm, on the Quatre Bras battlefield, has been placed on the market for sale.

The farm of Gemioncourt on the Quatre Bras battlefield, viewed from the North-west. Photo courtesy of the Napoleonic Wars Youtube Channel

It has come to our attention that Gemioncourt Farm, one of the key locations from the Battle of Quatre Bras (16th June 1815) in Belgium, as well as 8.5 hectares of the surrounding battlefield, has been placed on the market.

Gemioncourt formed part of the allied frontline during the battle, and was defended for a time by Dutch-Belgian troops, before falling to the French. It was later retaken by Allied troops at the end of the battle. Quatre Bras was a vitally important prequel to the more famous Battle of Waterloo. Although Quatre Bras ended in stalemate, the efforts of British, Dutch, Belgian, Nassau, Brunswick and Hanoverian troops under the command of the Duke of Wellington prevented the French from breaking through, keeping the campaign alive for the allies. Their sacrifice helped to create the possibility for Napoleon Bonaparte to be defeated two days later at Waterloo. Troops on all sides showed exceptional bravery, and to this day the battlefield is regularly visited by those wishing to pay their respects to all those who fought there.

The proposed future of the site is now unclear, and there is concern that the complex will suffer a similar fate to the farm of Quatre Bras, which was recently demolished to make way for a housing development.

It is, of course, inevitable that battlefields around the world will increasingly see the land repurposed to meet the demands of a growing population. However, we feel that the proposed sale of Gemioncourt offers a rare and exciting opportunity to conserve and redevelop the existing site as a heritage asset and place of learning, through which the story of the Battle of Quatre Bras, and its significance in the Waterloo campaign, can be told.

As a result, we have formed Heritage 1815 to explore options for a future of Gemioncourt Farm that pay homage to those who fought, and celebrate the site’s significance as a key location in a campaign that had a profound impact on European history.

This committee of leading Napoleonic historians will liaise with local and international stakeholders to identify sustainable solutions to the farm’s future which prioritise the sites preservation, and benefit the local community.

We therefore appeal to the international community to express their support for this ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to save a small part of European history by signing up to our mailing list on our website www.heritage1815.com, or following our efforts on social media @heritage1815.

We welcome discussion with stakeholders and other interested parties who would like to support us in the development of this vision, who should contact us at heritage1815@gmail.com

History is for everyone, and we all have a role in preserving our heritage for the benefit of future generations.

Signed

Dr Zack White

Prof Beatrice de Graaf

Prof Alex Mikaberidze

Dr Graeme Callister

Dr Katherine Bayford 

Dr Luke Reynolds                   

Miss Séverine Angers

Mr Liam Telfer

Mr Peter Molloy