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Origin and history

The building on 11 rue de la Ferrage in Nîmes, built in the seventeenth century, is part of a set of houses formerly connected to the dock of the Agau Canal. These buildings housed dyers, whose workshops drew on the proximity of water for their activities. The present house preserves traces of this artisanal history, especially in its spatial organization and decorations.

The street façade is distinguished by a pedestrian door with straight lintel adorned with crossettes, framed with pilasters bare with ionic capitals. The latter, decorated with volutes, hanging fruits and garlands, bear a rule archetrave and a frieze. A prominent painting interrupts quite well, surmounted by a larmal cornice. The uneven vantals of the door have lozenged and aligned panels, showing a neat work typical of the time.

Ranked a Historic Monument by order of 22 February 1964, only the gate on street (includingvantaux) is protected. This classification highlights the heritage value of the sculpted elements and structure, representative of the 17th century Nîmes civil architecture and its link to local artisanal activities.

The rue de la Ferrage thus concentrated houses and workshops related to dyeing, a major activity in Nîmes before industrialisation. The Agau Canal, now partially filled, played a central role in these trades, providing the water needed for dyeing and washing processes.

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