Wellington was at Frenida, on the Portuguese frontier, from late November 1812 where he took his army to recuperate over winter. He was quartered in the mayor's house in a small square by the church. He crossed back into Spain in May 1813.
The village was described by Lord John Russell in his diary entry for 25 May 1813 as 'very poor' (he had travelled there in order to see his brother William, who at the time was serving on Wellington's staff).