Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

This medieval house, located in Laval, is distinguished by its wooden structure, characteristic of the 15th century urban architecture. Its gable-on-street wall features two corbellations, one on the second floor of which rests on expanded poles and ground spacers. The constructive system, called "grid", combines vertical poles, cross of Saint-André and potlets, reinforced by oblique pieces called guettes on the first and second floors. The framework, with an overflowing farm, and the side façade house two levels of exterior galleries, rare elements for this period.

A dendrochronological study made it possible to date precisely its construction between 1459 and 1461, confirming its membership in the second half of the 15th century. The wooden façade, decorated with geometrical motifs and consolidated structures, was classified as Historic Monument by order of 18 October 1933, highlighting its heritage value. Its location on the Grande-Rue de Laval, the major axis of the city, suggests a role in the commercial or artisanal fabric of the time.

The building illustrates the wooden construction techniques used in French cities at the end of the Hundred Years War, a period of reconstruction and relative prosperity. In addition to their aesthetic function, the corbellations allowed the living space to be enlarged by overlooking the street, which is common in densely populated urban centres. The presence of outdoor galleries could indicate mixed use, both residential and related to professional activities (shops, workshops).

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