During the Napoleonic Wars (1805-1815), when England was at war with France, around 130 French prisoners were billeted in Thame.

Many of them were kept in the Mansion House (recently vacated by the Huguenots). Others were kept in Cotmore Wells (another Knollys residence on the Towersey Road), the Bird Cage Inn, and possibly also in Striblehills.

Officers were often placed ‘on parole’, being allowed out to neighbouring villages and farms from early morning to evening. Some even married local girls.