Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Abbeville's doll baths, located in the Somme department, were built between 1909 and 1910 by the Local Savings Bank. This establishment, designed by architects Greux and Marchand, is part of the early 20th century hygienist movement to promote body hygiene to improve public health. The building, erected on the site of the former cavalry district of Saint Joseph, was inaugurated in the presence of Mayor Charles Bignon. The sculptures adorning the facade, made by Louis Leclabart, combine plant motifs and mascarons, while the interior stained glass windows adopt an Art Nouveau style.

The management of the dowel baths was initially linked to the Savings Bank of Abbeville, which financed the project thanks to its savings. The establishment remained active until the second half of the 20th century, before being sold by the town hall in 2005. Between 2012 and 2014, the venue was rented to a hairdressing salon. Ranked a historic monument in 2003, it also includes the facades and roofs of the adjoining guard's house. The first stone laying ceremony on 17 July 1909 symbolically marked the beginning of this social and architectural project.

Louis Leclabart, an Amienese sculptor, signed not only the ornaments of the dowel baths, but also other local monuments such as the one to the dead of Abbeville or the Delique stadium. The building, built mainly of sand bricks, illustrates the municipal commitment to public health. Its carved stone pediment and Art Nouveau stained glass windows bear witness to the progressive ideas of the time, mixing social utility and aesthetics.

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