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Origin and history

The Becquet de l'Iton, also known as Becquet de Chéraumont, is a hydraulic masonry structure built in the 12th century under Henri I Beauclerc. Located in Bourth, Normandy, on the Iton River, it has the function of dividing the waters into two artificial arms: one towards Breteuil-sur-Iton in the north, the other towards Verneuil-sur-Avre in the south. This system helped to fuel the ditches of the strongholds, strengthening their defence. The dam, which was listed as a historic monument in 2002, includes a central spur, reservoirs and weirs equipped with metal slats to avoid jamming.

The origin of the Becquet dates back to William II the Bastard (future William the Conqueror), who turned a part of the Iton around 1054 to feed the Breteuil ditches after the loss of the castle of Tillières. His son, Henri I Beauclerc, completed the system between 1119 and 1131 by creating a laying threshold to permanently separate the waters to the two cities. Two drains were installed to avoid drying up the natural river bed. These developments reflect the strategic stakes of the time, where water control was crucial for the defence of border territories.

In the 18th century, the dam was almost entirely rebuilt, then equipped with a spillhole in 1843 at a cost of 14,000 francs gold. Repairs continued in the 19th century, with major works in 1808 and 1843. In 1999, the Syndicat de rivière Intercommunal de la Haute Vallée de l'Iton (SIHVI) acquired plots to restore the structure: sludge curing, repair of masonries and joints, and replacement of the pavements of the weirs. The site, managed by SIHVI since 1857, was included in the historical monuments inventory in 2002, including basins, weirs and leperon.

Letymology of the term beak comes from the old Norman bekkr (bec), designating a small stream or bench. The monument is part of a 30-km hydraulic network, illustrating medieval engineering and its adaptation to military needs. In 2013, improvements were made to facilitate access to people with reduced mobility, with funding shared between the General Council (39.1%), the Region (25.7%) and the EAFRD (15.2%).

Today, the Becquet de l'Iton bears witness to Norman history, the border conflicts between the Dukes of Normandy and the kings of France, and the evolution of hydraulic techniques from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Its current management aims to preserve this heritage while ensuring its ecological and historical function.

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