Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-29
Mistsllansuns Readina.
THE HOMES OF ExILED KINGS.
Abercorn and Wood Norton In Eng.
land.

The HOMES OF EHIIED KINGS.
Abercorn and Wood Norton In Eng.
land.
The spirit Of romance still hovers
about quaint old Richmond in the val
ley of the Thames. StorieS of what
occurred behind the ancient walls of
its royal palace shed light on many
pages Of English history. Standing in
the shadow Of its gateway, the visitor
can picture those days when Edward
III. mourned there for the Black
Prince and would not be comforted, or
recall the brilliant court Of Henry VII.
and see, in fancy, the stately funeral
procession of Elizabeth starting for
London. But, writes Sarah G. Pome-
roy in the Springfield Sunday Repub-
lican, living monarch, though de-
throned, is Of more interest to the
modern tourist than the relics Of dead
kings, and consequently, Dom Manuel
of Portugal, is the centre Of interest In
Richmond today.
At Abercorn, an unpretentious house
on Richmond Hill, he is now living the
quiet life of an English country gen.
tleman. Besides Queen Amelie, the
lord chamberlain and a lady in wait
ing are the only other members Of the
household, although some faithful
courtiers reside nearby. The Count de
Figuerio and the Marquis de Lavadio
live in the vicinity and the town bids
fair to become centre for Portuguese
loyalists. Abercorn was built about a
half-century ago by a New Zealand
merchant and was occupied until re-
Gently by the Englishman, who has
lived in Morocco. He furnished the
house in eastern style and It Is said
that the arrangement has not been
changed by the new occupant. AL
though the privacy so dear to English
hearts Is maintained by the high gar
den wall surrounding the mansion, Dom
Manuel does not seek seclusion and
may be seen daily walking in Rich
mond park or admiring the famous
view from Richmond Hill.
BY selecting Richmond for his home,
he is really carrying out the traditions
Of his family for, through his mother,
he Is directly descended from the house
Of Orleans, which has for years been
associated with this particular part Of
England. These homes Of the French
royalists are all places of historic In
terest, but the average tourist, hasten
ing through England on schedule time,
Is generally unconscious of their exist
ence. Louis Philippe. the great great
grandfather of Dom Manuel, was only
a little older than the young Portuguese
exile when he first came to England In
1900 and settled In Twickenham, oppo-
site Richmond, on the Thames. The
Queen Anne mansion which he occu-
pied for many years Ia still called Or
leans house In his honor and the beau
tiful gardens, which were once counted
the finest In England, retain some Of
their former glory. Here, in their leafy
shade, Queen Catherine, wife Of
George II, -ioved breakfast with
Lady Catherine Johnson, who was, at
that time, mistress Of the mansion.
The young Due d'Orleans, as he was
then, was long remembered in Twick-
enham and some amusing stories are
recorded of his recognition by the
townspeople when, as the exiled king
Of France, he sought refuge in Eng
land, 40 years later. Soon after his
arrival, he set out one morning from
the Star and Garter in Richmond to
revisit his old home in Twickenham.
On the street he met a man who
hoped his royal highness was WELL"
Touched by the mans recognition, but
unable to remember him, Louis Phil
ippe asked his name. "Oh," said the
man, touching his cap respectfully, Il
kept the crown" (referring to the long
established public house) Did your"
responded the exile. why, my good
fellow, you were lucky; you did what
was unable to do"
Within a short driving distance from
Richmond, in the parish Of Esher,
stands Claremont, where Louis Phil
ippe died in 1850. This historic place
is associated with both English and
French royalty for 1t frat became a
royal residence in 1919. when 1t was
bought for Princess Charlotte at the
time Of her marriage with Leopold,
Prince of Sake Coburg. Upon her
death, only few months later, the
property passed to her husband, but
he never cared to live there again, al
though he retained the estate even af-
ter he had become king Of the Bel
gians and had married again. His
second wife was Louise, the eldest
daughter of Louise Philippe. so it was
quite natural that he should place the
mansion at the disposal Of his exiled
father n-law. Louis Philippe's wife
lived there until her death 16 years
after that of her husband, and they are
both buried in the adjoining parish OF
Weybridge. When her grandson, the
"hooS ioFOA AO-~
Philippe abdicated the French throne,
was married in the Roman Catholic
church at Kingston, the aged queen
made it the occasion of great gath
ering of the house of Orleans at Clare
mont. The stateliness Of that royal
feast stands out among the traditions
of the parish.
Upon his marriage the Comte de
Paris was presented with a residence
at Twickenham. 1t is doubtful II any
other private mansion in England has
more associations with royalty than
this house. Built originally in the 18th
century, it became the home Of James
H., then Duke of York, and his much
loved wife, the daughter of Lord Clar-
endon. Both their daughters, Mary