Former tilery à Broyes dans la Marne

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The old tilery of Broyes, located in the Marne (Great East), dates from the 3rd quarter of the 19th century. It illustrates the development of small craft tiles in the region, where 140 units were recorded in 1844. These structures usually employed a few workers (four at Broyes), producing tiles and bricks for local needs. The tile was built in 1854 after Alexander Vinot acquired the land in 1849, marking a period of modest but essential industrial activity for the rural economy.

The monument is distinguished by its oven, the most preserved part, composed of three elements: an underground fireplace accessible by a vaulted corridor, a main fireplace with two covered corridors of brick arches, and a "laboratory" (cooking space of tiles). This model is inspired by the furnaces described in Diderot's Encyclopedia and in Alembert, reflecting the techniques of the time. The hall of preparation and drying, now gone, was once complete. The oven has been protected since 2000 (registration to Historic Monuments).

This tilery reflects a pre-industrial economy where building materials were manufactured locally, often in family or craft structures. In the Marne, these tiles met the growing needs for housing and infrastructure, linked to urbanization and agriculture. Their decline in the twentieth century, in the face of mechanization, makes them rare remains of this technical heritage.

The current location, 1 Chemin de la Tuilerie à Broyes, corresponds to the historical address, although geographical accuracy is considered "a priori satisfactory" (note 6/10). The site, partially preserved, offers an overview of traditional production methods, which are now extinct in the region.

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