these magnificent wash houses, absolutely worth discovering during your walks

What were the wash houses used for?

As their name suggests, washhouses were used to wash, mainly clothing and household linen.

According to Jacky Brionne, the president of the Val-de-Sienne Heritage Preservation and Promotion Association, these installations have become “more accessible”, after the epidemics multipliedand that consequently “the State encouraged their development”. Their use has democratized in the 19^e century and lasted until around the 1950s.

The wash house, a place of socialization for women

The wash houses public or private (when rented by their owners), were a real – and one of the only – lplaces of meetings and exchanges for the fairer sex. Men met in taverns for drinks, while women chatted while washing clothes.

How often did we wash our laundry?

Jacky Brionne, like Lucie Brault-Gicquel, cultural mediator at the Maison du Patrimoine Soudin, agree that the frequency of washing depended on the social status of the household concerned.

The less well off you were, the less laundry you had and therefore, in theory, the more you had to wash it. However, “at the time, we didn't wash our clothes as much as today and household linen was only washed once or twice a year,” explains Jacky.

Besides, Manchois’ grandmother was a “washer” – and not washerwoman as they say in the South! – that is to say that she took, washed and returned the laundry of several families (rather well-off, since they had an employee).

The wash houses on the banks of Siena, in Villedieu-les-Poêles

Its wash houses contribute to the reputation of Villedieu-les-Poêles. They are renowned throughout the Channel and beyond, “largely because they are highlighted, thanks to preserved surrounding town planning”, and that they are “clearly visible, especially from Square Horn-Bad Meinberg, where the “we can observe them from the other bank,” explains the cultural mediator.

Jacky Brionne, who participated in the washhouse renovation project, concluded in 2013, also believes that they are a “good example of restored washhouses”.

If you go to Les Sourdins, don’t miss out on stroll along the banks of the Siena!

Jacky's favorite wash houses

Jacky Brionne advises you to go and observe some exceptional wash houses.

– Hambye: Jacky invites you to discover the five wash houses in the town.

– Gavray-sur-Sienne: “It’s one of my favorites, it’s located in the Quartier des Planches, at the time, we used planks to cross the river. »

– Carentan-les-Marais: rue des Lavandières, you will find the Fontaines washhouse, which was supplied by a source located a few meters away.

– Montbray: “there is a very beautiful one at the foot of the town hall and the castle”.

– Villedieu-les-Poêles: the washhouse located next to the Saint-Clair fountain, below the Saultchevreuil church.

– Percy-en-Normandie: that of Pont-Bacon, completely redone in 1999, and that of Chefresne.

– La Lande d’Airou: located in the private courtyard of the castle, it is visible from the village cemetery.

Near Granville

We also advise you to discover those of Champeaux, Saint-Léger, du Mesnil-Drey, Jullouville The Hague-Pesnel or the Lucerne of Overseas,some of which have been renovated.

And of course, that of Cérences, starting point of the circuit (5 km) of the Vallée de La Chaussée.

If you want to learn more about the history of the banks of Siena, the House of Muted Heritage has dedicated part of its permanent exhibition to this subject. More info: www.villedieutourisme.com/decouvert/villedieu-les-poeles-et-ses-alentours/maison-du-patrimoine-sourdin/

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