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Origin and history

The Bray Manor House, also known as the upper manor house, is an emblematic 16th century home (or late 15th century according to some sources) located in the municipality of Glos, Calvados. Located on a hill 4 km south of Lisieux, on the left bank of the Orbiquet, it stands out for its asymmetrical architecture: a rectangular stone house and wooden panels, with polygonal turrets housing stairs. Its roof, adorned with a campanile surmounted by a wind rose, and its four skylights (including three pediments) reflect the style of the era. The 5-hectare park, built in English, suffered from the storm of 1999 but remains a remarkable feature of the estate.

The history of the mansion is related to that of the Bray fief, of which he was probably part with two other nearby manors (Bray Fief and Brairia). The site retains traces of a castral moth surrounded by ditches, suggesting an ancient occupation. Although changes took place in the 18th and 20th centuries, the main structure dates back to the Renaissance. The facades and roofs were listed as historic monuments in 1928, while the park, which was classified in 1943, was preserved to avoid its slaughter during the Second World War.

The mansion illustrates Norman seigneurial architecture of the modern period, with its wooden corbellems and residual defensive elements. Its park, although damaged, bears witness to the evolution of the gardens between the 16th century and the contemporary era. Today, there is still a typical example of the nine manor houses in Glos, reflecting the historical importance of the local fiefs in the Auge Country.

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