Timeline

Origin and history

Bonneval's justice of peace is a building whose initial destination remains mysterious. Built in the 13th century, its original structure consisted of two floors with ceilings supported by columns decorated with foliage capitals. The original screw staircase was later replaced by a two-fly staircase. No document confirms its primary use, although a judicial function is sometimes mentioned.

In 1876, the first floor was transformed into an audience for justice of peace, with the addition of partitions dividing space. Each floor kept a large, unique room, marked by massive beams and round columns. The building, classified as a Historic Monument in 1965, now belongs to the municipality of Bonneval. Its architecture thus combines medieval elements with 19th-century developments, reflecting its functional evolution.

The location of the building at 5 Passage Westerham is estimated with satisfactory a priori accuracy (note 6/10). Although its exact role in local history remains unclear, its preservation reflects the importance of judicial institutions in small French cities. Available sources (Monumentum, Mérimée base) highlight its status as an old justice of peace, without specifying the activities that took place there before 1876.

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