Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The manor house of the Court, located in Fleetmanville in the English Channel, is an ancient fortified house dating back to the 13th century. At that time, the fief belonged to the Erquembourg family, before being sold in 1406 by Jehan Arquembot to Jehan de Hainneville. The current manor house, begun around 1490, was enlarged in the 17th and 18th centuries, retaining defensive elements such as two octagonal towers and a scauguette. Its flamboyant Gothic architecture blends with classic openings, reflecting the stylistic evolutions of the region.

The seigneury of Flottemanville passed into the hands of several influential families, including the La Roque (XVth–XVIth centuries), the Pierrepont (XVIth–XVIIth centuries), and the Dancel and the Hüe de Caligny in the 18th and 19th centuries. The mansion, sequestered during the Revolution, even served as barracks. His chapel, dedicated to Saint John, houses armored stained glass windows and a 16th century Virgin with Child, testifying to the patronage of successive lords.

Partially listed as historical monuments in 2008, the mansion also preserves the traces of an old garden and hydraulic network. The facades, roofs, large living room and chapel are protected, as are the commons and access aisles. Today it is privately owned and illustrates the evolution of seigneurial habitat in Normandy, between defensive function and residence of pleasure.

The coat of arms visible on the walls and stained glass windows recall the marriage alliances of the family owners, such as those of the Moncel and Dancel in the 18th century. The presence of a dovecote, mentioned in 1406, and a chapel founded in 1497, underscores the economic and religious importance of the estate. The mansion remains a remarkable example of the civil architecture of North Cotentin.

Among the notable owners, Pierre IV de La Roque (died 1548) shared his inheritance among his daughters, including Françoise, wife of François de Pierrepont. Later, Georges-Antoine Dancel (1736–13), imprisoned during the Revolution, saw his property confiscated. In the 19th century, the Hüe de Caligny family, including Bernard-Henri-Louis (1763–34), also marked the history of the place.

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