Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

Le Croc is a brick and tile factory built in the 1st quarter of the 19th century in the commune of Rairies, Maine-et-Loire. This artisanal site, still in operation, illustrates the traditional manufacturing techniques of the time. It consists of two longitudinal ovens (so-called coated ovens), two hangars dedicated to shaping, drying and storing products, as well as an office, a multi-purpose central area and a well. These elements reflect the spatial organization characteristic of the brickworks in the region at this time.

In the 19th century, Les Rairies had about fifty similar horizontal ovens, accompanied by drying hangars with hollow tile roofs, emblematic of the local landscape. These structures bear witness to the importance of terracotta handicrafts in the economy and architecture of Angelina. The Le Croc brick factory, with its preserved buildings, offers a rare example of a complete site still operational, allowing to understand the methods of production and the daily life of the brickworkers of the time.

The brickworks has been listed as historic monuments since 1995, a recognition that protects its key elements: the two furnaces, the two hangars and the well. This protection underscores its heritage interest, both technical, architectural and historical, in the context of the Pays de la Loire and more broadly in French industrial history.

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