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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The North Watershed is a public building built directly on the Écoulottes Creek, which crosses its wash basin held by a small dam. This building, closed on three sides, has an open facade supported by ten stone columns, typical of 19th century washhouses. Its structure combines utility and aesthetics, reflecting the importance of washbasins in the rural daily life of the time.

Located in the commune of Oyrières, in Haute-Saône (region Burgundy-Franche-Comté), this wash house was built between 1845 and 1846 according to the plans of architects Delanne and Christophe Colard. It illustrates the functional architecture dedicated to collective hygiene, a major issue in the 19th century. Its designation as a historical monument in 1986 underscores its heritage value and its role in local history.

Washers, like that of Oyrières, were places of female sociability where the inhabitants came to wash their clothes. Their construction met practical needs, but also public hygiene standards promoted during the Industrial Revolution. This washhouse, owned by the commune, bears witness to the community organization and collective infrastructure developed in French rural areas in the 19th century.

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