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Origin and history

The house with beams of Esquirol in Montastruc is part of a set of 53 houses located in the North-Agenese, built between the last quarter of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century. These houses, built in squared logs, are concentrated around the cantons of Villeréal and Castillonnès, with a diffusion towards Issigeac and Villeneuve-sur-Lot. Their construction technique, rare in France, recalls Scandinavian models such as those of Telemark in Norway. They testify to the repopulation of the region after the Hundred Years' War, thanks to waves of migration from the Central Massif and Poitou, attracted by advantageous conditions offered by the local lords.

The stacked houses, like that of Esquirol, are distinguished by their ground floor in planks assembled in half-wood and their floor in wooden strips and torchis. Their ethnological and archaeological interest was recognized by their listing or classification as historical monuments between 1991 and 1992. The house of Montastruc, dated between the 16th and 17th centuries, was registered in 1991 for its rarity and age. Its rectangular plan, its missing fireplace and its 18th century modifications illustrate the evolution of domestic needs over the centuries.

The name "stackhouse" was popularized by researchers François Fray and Jules Momméja, who highlighted similarities with northern constructions. These houses, often associated with clearings, reflect a period of post-conflict reconstruction, where land was ceded in return for development. Their preservation offers a unique insight into rural construction techniques and the social dynamics of the Renaissance Ages.

The Battle of Castillon in 1453 marked the end of the Hundred Years War, leaving Agenas and Périgord devastated. Two waves of immigration, between 1472-1485 and 1515-1530, allowed these territories to repopulate, with families from Rouergue, Quercy or Poitou. The lords and abbots favoured this settlement by offering land to clear and build, an essential condition for reviving the local economy after decades of war and epidemics.

The dendrochronological study of the woods confirmed the dating of these houses between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Their concentration in the Dropt and Tolzac valleys suggests a link with local settlement axes and forest resources. Seven of these houses were protected for their heritage value, while others, such as those in Sainte-Sabine-Born, were listed in the General Inventory of Cultural Heritage.

The house of Esquirol, with its ground floor stacked with loggers and its corbelled floor, illustrates a hybrid construction technique, mixing wood and torches. Its inscription in 1991 underlines its exceptional character, linked to the scarcity of rural buildings of this period preserved intact. Subsequent changes, such as the enlargement in the 18th century, reflect its adaptation to the changing needs of the occupants, while preserving its original structure.

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