EMPRESS EUGENIE’S HOME

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1929, Page 8

EMPRESS EUGENIE’S HOME

USED BY NUNS. A community of nuns now live in Farnborough Hall, the great straggling half-timbered house in which the late Ertipress Eugenie lived so long. The hoiise, built right among the pines, belonged to Mr. Longman, of the famous publishing family, when, about 1888, the Empress acquired it and greatly enlarged it. Farnborough Hill is cut in two by a narrow gorge, through which run the, railway and a road. In the crypt of the Priory Church rest the remains of Napoleon 111., the Prince Imperial, and the Empress. An abbey still functioning flourishes alongside the church. To sanction the founding of Farnborough Abbey was almost the last act of Pope Leo. XIII. Erom 1896 the Benedictine monks were recognised as part of the household of the exEmpress, who moved to Farnborough Hill in 1881. On Jaiiuary 9, 1888, the remains of the Emperor and the Prince Imperial were brought from ChisleHui’st, amid scenes of great solemnity, to the new mausoleum prepared for them. French monks, an order of

White Friars, were allotted the honour, of guarding the Imperial bodies. in 1896 the White Friars went away, and were seen no more. The Empress than gave the Priory and the churdh to Benedictine monks of the French congregation .from Solesmes Abbey. They have remained at Farnborough. The abbey building includes a quadrangle 100 ft. in length, with a massif tower at each corner. Unlike the prioty church, no direct view of it can be obtained from any highway.