Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Bureau des Poores de Beauvais was gradually developed in the Saint-Laurent district, initially incorporating old buildings such as the Hotel Saint-Just (XIVth century) and an adjoining chapel (XVIth century). These brick and stone buildings mark the first physical traces of this charitable institution, anchored in an urban island with mixed social and religious functions.

In the 18th century, the institution extended with buildings designed for its specific needs: a large building along Buzenval Street (1777-1792) and a wood-paned construction at the corner of the streets of 27-Jun and Gesvres. These additions reflect a growing administrative organization, adapted to the management of the poor in an expanding city.

The 19th-century reconstructions recapture the traces of earlier buildings, but their quality of execution is considered poor. Despite this, the ensemble retains remarkable elements, such as the baluster staircase and the fireplace of the administrator's apartment, protected by 1987 decrees. These protections highlight the heritage value of a site combining medieval, classical and industrial architecture.

Today, the Office of the Poor illustrates the evolution of social policies in Beauvais, from medieval assistance to modern administrative structures. Its classification as Historic Monument in 1987 preserves a rare testimony of the mechanisms of urban solidarity throughout the centuries.

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