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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Manor House of the Faucherie, also known as Château de la Faucherie, is an ancient fortified house from the 15th to the 16th centuries, profoundly renovated in the 19th century. Located 1 km west of the church of Mesnillard in the English Channel (Normandy), this private monument is not visited but is partially listed in the Historical Monuments since 1989. Its original moat, replaced by gardens, gives way to a beautified facade (enlarged windows, half-timbered scallop) and a square tower at the back. The ensemble retains medieval elements like two granite chimneys and a dovecote built into the stair tower.

Acquired in 1583 by Guillaume Cordon, Sieur de la Lande and Sénéchal, the mansion remained in its progeny until the 19th century. Joseph de Robillard de Beaurepaire (1830–1906), mayor of Mesnillard, resided there after marrying Eulalie du Mesnil, great-granddaughter of the Cordon. His brothers, Eugene (historian) and Charles (archivist), illustrate the local anchor of this family. The facades, roofs, and interior elements (pathways, sprocket walls) have been protected since 1989, while the exteriors open to the public in summer.

The building embodies the architectural evolution of a Norman mansion, moving from a defensive vocation (tows, tower) to a beautified aristocratic residence. The current gardens, with their shaded avenue, replace the old moat, while the square tower and the half-timbers recall its medieval origin. The 1989 protection underscores its heritage value, mixing seigneurial heritage and 19th century transformations.

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