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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The cross of the cemetery of Saint-Pierre-de-Mailloc is an emblematic monument located in the eponymous commune of Normandy. Dated from 1788, it illustrates the religious architecture of the late eighteenth century, with a doric style cask and the ends of crusillons decorated with lily flowers. An engraved inscription, "E. Vesque made me", attests to his artisanal origin or his sponsor, although the archives do not specify the exact identity of the latter. Classified as a historic monument since August 11, 1975, it enjoys heritage protection for its artistic and historical value.

The cross stands south of the parish church of St Peter, in the enclosure of the communal cemetery. Its location, close to the place of worship, highlights its symbolic role in the religious and memorial life of the community. The lily flowers, recurring motifs, could evoke a royal or noble influence, although the source text does not explain. The cross is now owned by the commune, and its state of conservation seems to be linked to local conservation efforts, as evidenced by its early classification in the 20th century.

The monument is part of a regional context marked by the transition between the former regime and the French Revolution, when public religious symbols were still common in the Norman countryside. Cemetery crosses, often erected by private donors or parishes, served as both a spiritual landmark and an identity marker for villages. In Saint-Pierre-de-Mailloc, as elsewhere in Lower Normandy, these buildings also reflected local craftsmanship, blending late Gothic traditions and emerging classical influences.

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