Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The manor house of Cléronde, built in the mid-17th century (from 1639) in a Louis XIII style, stands on the town of Blay in Calvados. It was erected by Renée de Fromont, Sieur de Cléronde, whose family, composed of numerous jurists in the Rouen Parliament, had owned these lands since the 15th century. The building, restored at the end of the 19th century by Baron Maurice Gérard, has a symmetrical architecture with a central body flanked by two pavilions, including a larger north turret.

In 1792, Philippe de Fromont sold the estate before emigrating, marking the beginning of a series of changes of owners. The mansion became the property of Baron Maurice Gérard, the grand-neveeu of the painter François Gérard, who undertook his restoration. During the Battle of Normandy in 1944, the site was severely damaged: a shell destroyed the western chimney of the north wing during the fighting on 8 June in the nearby Gruchy Wood.

The manor is distinguished by remarkable architectural elements, such as a door with carved coats of arms, a corbelled scallop, and a slate roof adorned with dotted spikes. Inside, a mural painted fireplace, monogrammed "CF and DR", illustrates an allegorical scene with the inscription "Vade retro". The commons, including a stud and a dovecote, complete this seigneurial ensemble. Since 1929, the mansion has been listed as historical monuments, preserving its architectural and memorial heritage.

The site is also marked by a silhouette in armor on a turret, nicknamed "M. de Cléronde", adding a mysterious touch to this heritage. Its location, near the Cléronde pond and Gruchy wood, makes it a witness to both local history and the upheavals of the Second World War.

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