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Origin and history

The priory of Tailleville, located in Dover-la-Déliverande in Calvados, is an ancient monastery dating back to the 13th century. It was founded by the Saint Martin Abbey of Troarn, and Durand de Troarn had the chapel re-edited, dedicated to Saint Martin. This priory served as a church for the commune of Tailleville until the French Revolution, when the last prior took the oath of the civil constitution of the clergy.

The medieval style chapel preserves architectural features characteristic of the 13th century, such as its arches in the middle of the hangar and in the warhead, as well as its bell tower-arch that has been listed as historical monuments since 1933. In the 19th century, the Mallerio family acquired the priory and built nearby the Château de Tailleville, partially changing the facade of the chapel with additions of composite style, including pilasters and stucco statues.

During the Second World War, the castle was requisitioned by the German army, but neither the castle nor the chapel suffered irreversible damage. After the war, the site was acquired by the community of the Convent Notre-Dame-de-Fidelité, then by the Emmaus Community, linked to the Abbé-Pierre Foundation. The bell tower, deposited at the beginning of the 21st century for security reasons, was the subject of a donation in 2014 to finance its restoration, estimated at €18,000.

Today, the chapel is open to the public only on the occasion of European Heritage Days. It houses an 18th-century altar and maintains a revised façade during the construction of the castle between 1866 and 1868. The priory, like the adjacent castle, is now dedicated to housing the disadvantaged of Calvados, thus perpetuating a social and charitable vocation.

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