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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Agen's Royal Sailing Canvas Factory is an 18th-century industrial complex located at 15 rue Valencia. This site, dedicated to the production of canvases for sailing ships, reflects the economic importance of the region in the maritime trade of the time. Its architecture and spatial organization testify to pre-revolutionary industrial techniques, adapted to the needs of the French navy.

The origin of this manufacture dates back to a petition filed in October 1762 by Pierre Gounon, then mayor of Agen and influential merchant. He asked Trudaine for finance to emphasize the usefulness of such a facility for the Agenais, a region then seeking economic development. A decision of the Council of State, dated 24 February 1763, officially authorized its construction under the name "Royal Manufacture", thus marking its direct connection to the crown.

The building, still present in the urban landscape of Agen, was recognized for its heritage value by being listed as historic monuments on November 25, 1981. This protection highlights its historical role in the local textile industry and its architecture characteristic of the 18th century royal factories. The available sources, including the works of Granat published in 1902 in the Revue de l'Agenais, allow to deepen the knowledge of its operation and its regional impact.

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