Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The tilery of the Maison Neuve, located 1.5 km southwest of Sévigny in the Orne, was established in 1812 by Michel-Martin Guillaumet as the Sans-Pareil tilery. The site initially consisted of a direct flame oven and a drying room, both of which were constructed of limestone. These elements, rare in Lower Normandy, bear witness to the industrial techniques of the time. The drying part, equipped with wooden shutters to regulate ventilation, and the two-fired oven illustrate a functional design adapted to the production of flat tiles.

Around 1854, the tilery expanded, but its activity ceased before 1900, leaving the oven in a state of ruins. The site was partially preserved: the drying room and the remaining oven were listed as historical monuments by order of 9 June 1995. Today, these vestiges offer a material testimony of 19th century rural tileries, marked by industrial boom and local craftsmanship. Their utility architecture, covered with flat tiles, reflects regional resources and know-how.

The tilery is part of an economic context where tiles played a key role in local construction, providing cheap and sustainable materials. In Normandy, these artisanal or semi-industrial establishments met the growing needs for housing and infrastructure, linked to urbanization and agriculture. Their decline at the end of the 19th century coincided with the mechanization and concentration of production in larger sites.

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