Which farmhouse was famously defended by the British at Waterloo?

The farmhouse famously defended by British troops at Waterloo was Hougoumont. This fortified château and farm stood on the allied army’s right flank and became one of the battle’s most fiercely contested positions on 18 June 1815.

Hougoumont was defended by British Guards alongside soldiers from Nassau and Hanoverian units. French troops attacked repeatedly, but the defenders held the compound for the entire battle. The north gate became especially famous: British Guards managed to close it after French attackers briefly forced their way inside.

Hougoumont is often confused with La Haye Sainte, another important fortified farm at Waterloo. La Haye Sainte was also defended by allied troops, including the King’s German Legion, but it fell late in the battle. Hougoumont remained in allied hands, forcing Napoleon to commit substantial forces there and helping protect Wellington’s flank.