Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hanouard mansion, located in the eponymous commune in Normandy, has its origins in a fief attested since the 12th century, integrated into a fortified complex with several remains. The main house, rectangular in shape, dates from the late 15th century and is distinguished by its brick construction, its entrance door framed by a limestone pediment carried by pilasters with capitals, as well as a hexagonal turret projecting at the back, formerly dedicated to the staircase. Two angle turrets, once present on the front façade, were demolished around 1850, changing the original appearance of the building.

In the 17th century, the south-east facade of the house underwent major changes, including the re-perceived bays and the addition of an enhanced entrance door to a pediment on pilasters, reflecting the architectural evolutions of the period. The estate also includes an octagonal brick dovecote, decorated with geometric motifs in limestone inlay, classified Historic Monument by order of 21 November 2008. A long adjacent building, serving as a stable and barn, bears witness to a 16th-century construction, partially redesigned in the 19th century for its central part. These elements illustrate the functional and aesthetic evolution of the mansion throughout the centuries.

The ensemble, characterized by the use of local materials (brick, limestone, flint), reveals a typical architecture of Normandy, mixing medieval defenses and residential developments of the Modern Times. The dovecote, symbol of seigneuriality, and traces of fortifications recall the economic and social role of the fief, while the subsequent changes attest to a continuous adaptation to the needs of its occupants.

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