Construction of spinning 1838 (≈ 1838)
First industrial silk spinning in France.
1856
A climax of seric farming activity
A climax of seric farming activity 1856 (≈ 1856)
1,090 women employed out of 4,450 inhabitants.
1881
Site expansion
Site expansion 1881 (≈ 1881)
Changes by the company Camel Frères.
1965
Final closure
Final closure 1965 (≈ 1965)
Last silk spinning active in France.
2003
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 2003 (≈ 2003)
Protection of the building and park.
2018
Opening of the museum
Opening of the museum 2018 (≈ 2018)
Inauguration of the Red House - museum.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The entire building, excluding the workshop built in 1975 to the south, as well as the park with the wind tower and the tea room (Box AB 948): inscription by order of 10 February 2003
Key figures
Léon Molines - Founder
Manufacturer of spinning in 1838.
Louis Soubeyrand - Owner
Acquire spinning in 1839.
Frères Camel - Lyon industrialists
Expand the spinning after 1880.
Daniel Travier - Collector
10,000 exhibits in the museum.
Origin and history
The former spinning of the Maison Rouge, located in Saint-Jean-du-Gard in the Gard, is a major testimony of the silk industry in Cevennes in the 19th century. Built in 1838 by Léon Molines, it was the first industrial silk mill in France and the last to close in 1965. Its architecture combines industrial elements (wood carpentry, cradle vaults, tile roofs) and atypical spaces such as a park with a wind turbine and a tea salon, reflecting its economic and social importance.
In 1856, out of 4,450 inhabitants, 1,090 women worked silk against 150 men. It was enlarged in 1881 and modernized with steam engines, boilers and Japanese equipment in 1957. The production fed the Lyon weavers, while the mulberry culture, feeding silkworms, structured local agriculture. Classified as a historical monument in 2003, it has been home to the Cevenole Valley Museum since 2018, presenting 10,000 objects on traditional life.
The mill changed several times from Léon Molines (1838) to Louis Soubeyrand (1839), then to the Camel brothers (after 1880) and to the Société Immobilier et Industrielle de Produits Textiles (1922). She received medals at the exhibitions of 1844 and 1855, highlighting her innovation. Disused in 1964, it was transformed into a furniture workshop before becoming a museum managed by Alès Agglomération, inaugurated in 2017 during Heritage Days.
The present museum, housed in the former industrial premises, highlights the Cevenol heritage through collections of everyday objects, agricultural tools and handicrafts. His contemporary museum journey dialogues with the preserved architecture of spinning, including temporary exhibitions on topics such as design or craftsmanship. The site also maintains a private archive, testifying to its technical and social history.
The architectural complex, including the main building, park, wind farm and tea room, has been protected since 2003. The spinning illustrates the rise and decline of the secular industry in France, while symbolizing the central role of women in this activity. Today, it offers both a historical and a living look at the Cevennes, between worker memory and cultural dynamism.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review