At the end of the 18th century a new French leader emerged offering strong government and military glory. This person was a young army officer named Napoleon Bonaparte who, by 1799, became dictator of France and in 1804 was crowned Emperor.
In 1793 the French Republic declared war on Britain, a war that only ended with Napoleon’s final defeat at Waterloo. The French connection with Ashbourne occurred during the period 1803 – 1814 when a total of 172 French prisoners of war were placed on parole in the town with an estimated number of 40 residing at any given time. Prisoners were billeted all over Ashbourne – in the 25 public houses available at the time, farms and private residences. Movement was restricted but not strictly enforced. It is recorded in the parish church register that four daughters of the proprietor of the Cock Inn, Dig Street, all chose to marry French parole officers.
© The Ashbourne Partnership