Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The tilery of the Bretèche was created around 1890-1894 by Emmanuel de Baudus in the commune of Ligny-le-Ribault, Loiret. This industrial site, which was late for a tilery, initially consisted of a cradle vaulted oven and two used drying halls at Beaugency. These structures, still in use today, reflect a mechanized production of bricks, tiles and tiles, typical of the transition between crafts and industry.

In the early 1930s, the original furnace vault was replaced by a truncated chimney, modernising the installation. In 1953, a new quadruple oven was built to meet the growth in activity. The drying of the bricks was then done with fans recovering hot air from the ovens, thus optimizing production. These technical developments illustrate the adaptation of tiles to the 20th century industrial requirements.

Ranked a historic monument in 1999 for its disused oven and its original halls, the tilery also served as a decor in 1975 for the shooting of an episode of the Tiger Brigades. In 2007, she was awarded the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label, highlighting her artisanal and industrial heritage. Still in operation, it now employs a small team and perpetuates quality production, witness to a solognot know-how.

Architecturally, the utility buildings of the tile factory mix wood, bricks and modern materials such as corrugated sheet metal. Their layout around the court reflects a rational organization of work, characteristic of the industrial sites of the time. The Bretèche tilery remains one of the last examples of a once flourishing activity in Sologne, between tradition and innovation.

External links