Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Villa Bailleul, also known as Villa La Feuillée, is a villa built in Pontorson between 1870 and 1880 in a neo-Louis XIII style. It is distinguished by a rock-style reservoir, unique in Western Normandy, designed by engineer Joseph Monier, pioneer of reinforced concrete. This reservoir, placed on six poles and surrounded by a gallery, was initially accompanied by a jet of water and a rock that has now disappeared. The villa was built for the director of the Compagnie des Polders de l'Ouest, a company that won farmland in the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel.

Villa Bailleul was listed as a historic monument on 30 September 2011 for its facades, roofs, rock tank and fence. However, the site, abandoned and squatted, suffered a fire on August 29, 2012, damaging the first floor and roof of the communes. Before this disaster, rehabilitation projects were under discussion to enhance this architectural heritage.

Located on 1 rue du Docteur-Bailleul in Pontorson, the villa is a testament to the eclectic architecture of the late 19th century. Its neo-Louis XIII style, combined with innovative elements such as reinforced concrete, reflects the artistic and technical influences of the time. The rock tank, now protected, illustrates the taste of wealthy owners for decorative hydraulic arrangements.

Joseph Monier, the engineer behind the tank, is a key figure in this monument. Although he pioneered reinforced concrete, he suffered financial difficulties and died ruined. His work at Villa Bailleul remains a notable example of the application of this technique in a residential and decorative context.

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