Date engraved on a chimney 1606 (≈ 1606)
Monogram "HMFH" evoking Henri IV
1er quart XVIIe siècle
Construction period
Construction period 1er quart XVIIe siècle (≈ 1725)
Norman seigneurial residence
2 mars 1981
Classification of historical monuments
Classification of historical monuments 2 mars 1981 (≈ 1981)
Protection of facades and interior elements
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Facades and roofs; living room with fireplace and fireplace of the dining room on the ground floor; two chimneys on the floor; fireplace, bread oven in the cellar; façades of the dovecote (cad. A 38): by order of 2 March 1981
Key figures
Henri IV - King of France (1589-1610)
Monogram possible on chimney
Marie de Médicis - Queen consort of France
Monogram possible on chimney
Origin and history
Mentheville Manor House is a house built in the first quarter of the 17th century, located in the municipality of Mentheville, Seine-Maritime. This monument is distinguished by its typical architecture of the time, with remarkable elements such as a living room with a monumental fireplace, a dining room with fireplace, as well as fireplaces and a bread oven in the floors and cellar. A dovecote, located apart, completes this set.
One of the monumental chimneys bears the date of 1606 and bears the monogram "HMFH", which could refer to Henri IV and Marie de Medici, although this hypothesis is not confirmed. This detail suggests a possible influence or connection to the royal court of the time, although the archives do not provide a direct link.
The mansion has been partially classified as historical monuments since 2 March 1981. The protected elements include facades and roofs, the living room with fireplace, fireplaces on the floor, as well as the bread oven and the dovecote facades. These protections highlight the heritage importance of this site, both for its architecture and its history.
Located away from the village of Mentheville, the mansion reflects the architectural style of the seigneurial houses of the early seventeenth century in Normandy. At that time, the region was marked by a rural economy and a society organized around the local lords, whose mansions served as administrative and residential centres. These buildings often embodied the power and prestige of their owners, while playing a central role in the economic and social life of the surrounding countryside.
