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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Martin d'Esquerdes, located in the Pas-de-Calais department, is a Catholic building built from the twelfth to the seventeenth century. Originally, it consisted of a simple nave without vault, an octagonal central tower on the upper floor, a small transept, and a choir probably vaulted in a cradle. The apse, whose exact plan remains uncertain, could have been semicircular and arched in cul-de-four. These initial elements reflect a sober architecture, typical of the first Romanesque churches in the region.

At the beginning of the thirteenth century, the sanctuary was elongated, and an arrow was added to the tower. The bedside is modified with the addition of a vaulted straight span, probably in a cradle, and a small apse with arched warheads. The upper floor of the bell tower, originally octagonal, is transformed into a rectangular plane by the addition of four angles to a masonry, while preserving partially its original bays. An octagonal stone arrow, surrounded by four quadrangular pyramids, is erected, requiring the reinforcement of pillars and arches to support these new structures.

In the first half of the 14th century, major modifications were made after the request of a lady of Esquerdes to be buried in the church and to found a chapel there. A tomb is installed in the north wall of the bedside, while a chapel of three arches of warheads is joined to the south. The southern arm of the transept is also redesigned. These transformations illustrate the evolution of funeral and religious practices of the time, as well as the influence of local donors on ecclesiastical architecture.

In the 15th century, the seigneury of Esquerdes was owned by the family of Crèvecœur, notably Philippe de Crèvecœur. In 1518, Antoine du Bois, lord of Esquerdes and bishop of Béziers, offered a bell to the church. However, the village suffered numerous damage during the conflicts of the sixteenth century, notably during the invasions of French, imperial and English troops between 1542 and 1544. These events led to the temporary abandonment of the village and repair work in the church, including the reconstruction of the nave in the second quarter of the 16th century, covered with a structure and a panel. The altars and altarpieces, dating from the 17th century, complete the main transformations of the building.

Saint Martin's Church was classified as a historic monument on April 17, 1914, recognizing its heritage and architectural value. The studies conducted by Camille Enlart at the beginning of the 20th century, published in the Mémoires de la Société des Antiquaires de la Morinie, provide a detailed analysis of its structural evolution, stressing its importance in the religious and architectural history of the Hauts-de-France region.

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