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Origin and history

The Saint-Rémy-l'Abbaye farm, also called the priory of Ronquerolles, is a former Benedictine religious establishment founded before 1146, as evidenced by an episcopal confirmation of that date. Depending on the abbey of Saint-Germer-de-Fly (Oise), this simple priory — without parish charge — was located in the disappeared parish of Reuil-sur-Brêche, before being attached to Agnetz in 1671. The monks perceived tithes on the neighbouring villages of Avrechy and Lieuvillers, but in the 18th century the abandoned site was managed by a farmer who was obliged to organize Sunday Masses there.

The chapel, in Burgundian Romanesque style, presents a rectangular three-nave plan with arches in the middle of the hangar and carved capitals (palmettes, masks). Its crosslinked tympanum and carved stone bays illustrate the influence of the buildings of Vineyard. The square dovecote, typical of monastic farms, is distinguished by its pavilion roof and median headband. These elements, with the 15th century portal, have been classified as historical monuments since 1966.

The priory was a link in the local religious network: the mother abbey of Saint-Germer-de-Fly controlled several priories around (Breuil-le-Vert, Breuil-le-Sec). The chapel, 13.35 m long for 12.42 m wide, served as a private place of worship, without parish function. Its architecture mixes sobriety (redesigned walls, simple openings) and carved details, reflecting stylistic transitions between Romanesque and Gothic.

Over the centuries, the site lost its monastic vocation: as early as the 18th century, a farmer exploited the land and maintained the chapel, reducing its use to a weekly mass. The five grain muids paid annually to the parish priests of Agnetz and Airion recall its integration into the seigneurial economy. Today, the farm bears witness to this agricultural and religious heritage, marked by the reuse of monastic buildings in rural operation.

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