An online prize pool created to continue the restoration of this protected mill in Calvados

On December 14, Alain Ballon, owner of the Flagère mill in Tourneur (Souleuvre-en-Bocage), met with a manager from the national higher school of computer engineers in Caen: a site will be created.

During the month of January 2025, a prize pool will be launched on KissKissBankBank, to raise funds to continue the restoration of the Flagère mill. “The engineers will create the site, I will write the content, and with Victor Lecouffle, who is a member of the association ‘Les Amis du moulin’, we will take turns responding to people,” explains Alain Ballon. We have to be serious and square! » The site's logo was created by a Belgian veterinarian who did an internship in Saint-Martin-des-Besaces for a year during which she joined forces with the Friends of the Moulin.

The mill awaits its windows

Classified as “Norman Heritage” and under the protection of the Calvados departmental council, the mill is now out of water. Quotes have been made for interior and exterior seals, and custom windows also need to be made.

I found a company in La Manche, but it is very expensive. Someone from the European community came and could help us. I will defend this project before a commission

In 2025, the monument will be registered for the 6th year in the Heritage Loto, defended by Stéphane Bern.

Need a mini excavator and arms

The owner is also looking for a mini excavator to empty the interior of the building. In fact, a farmer who rented it for a few years cashed it in to be able to bring in his equipment. It is therefore necessary to dig a meter deep to find the original level.

THE 15,000 m² of land also require a lot of maintenance work. With the latest storms, many trees have fallen. The 2,100 m² pond needs to be devastated. It was dug by hand by the Templars of the Courval commandery, to whom the mill was offered in 1140. It allowed them to raise white fish – on the menu three times a week – and to turn the wheels of the mill.

Intimately attached to the mill

Passionate about heritage, Alain and his wife consulted all the regional archivesand the national archives also sent them documents. It must be said that both are linked to the building which is part of their history.

I lived with a host family in Saint-Martin, and when, as a child, I went fishing, I sat on the steps of the mill. In addition, my in-laws lived in the mill from 1942 to 1950.

A titanic project

When he bought the mill in 2009, it was a ruin.

During the storm of 87, a tree fell on it, the frame collapsed, the attic floor rotted and fell onto that of the 1st floor

For two months, Alain dismantled a abandoned house in order to collect stones to reassemble the walls of the mill. In Saint-Sever foresthe purchased 32 Douglas fir trees which were cut by the Thomas company in order to rebuild the frame. As for the roof, completed in 2023, it is made up of 7,000 slateswhich each weigh 1 kg.

Volunteers wishing to join “Les Amis du moulin”, an association which currently has 28 members, can contact Alain Ballon on 06 22 36 34 28 or by email at [email protected].

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