overmonnow Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 HelloMy husband and I would like to find out more about the history of our property... We know it was built for monks c. 300 years ago, but that's it! Any ideas where the best places are to start? We haven't done this before (had a new house, so no point!) so wouldn't know in the UK where to start, let alone the equivalent organisations over here!Any and all comments gratefully received...Many thanks,Emma-Jane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisb Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 A friend found out lots of information about our house by going to the 'Archives Departmental' - you can find the address and phone number for your department using Pages Jaunes on the internet. He was doing research for a thesis on old manoirs and chateaux..........sorry, I don't know whather you have to make an appointment or not.Hope this helps a bit!RegardsChris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mpprh Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 HiI found information from :NeighboursMairieLocal tourist officeLocal history society (ask in the library)Departement archeological architect (ask at the prefecture)Reprints of old books on the area (available in local bookshops)In this area, there is not much documentation dating before the revolution, but my property was shown on older town maps.Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana Posted December 22, 2004 Share Posted December 22, 2004 We have all the papers for the various sales of our house going back to the revolution. The oldest one is dated 1793, this is written in the wording of the revolutionary calendar (sorry have not got it in front of me so can't remember what it says). It is described in great detail listing all the rooms, number of panes of glass in the windows, plants in the garden etc. The house sounds very similar to how it is now so must be older than that. Any archieves that survived the revolution and the destruction of the WW2 are in St Lo. I would love to go and have a look there but my French just is not up to it, I would not no what to ask for. I think at some point the house had a face lift, from the outside it looks late 1700's but many of the locals say it may have been 2 houses as the floors on one side are lower than the other and the beams go in different directions. Also it is right in the middle of the town square, the town has been habited at least since roman times so I would think there would have been a building there for many hundred years.If I could find old books and maps of the town 50480, that would be a start but don't know where to go.Diana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutts Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 If you can't find historical details of your property, you could perhaps find out more about the people who lived there. If neighbours can provide a few names to help get you started, you could then go to the Mairie and browse records for people born in the house. Actes de naissance will provide the name/address of a house where a birth has taken place. The local cemetary will give clues as to which years you should browse. You can't get anything less than 100 yrs old from a mairie because of French privacy laws.Good luckLindaPS - If you want to see an example of an acte de naissance or livret de famille, let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 I would like to have the beams in our property dated, does anyone know of a service in 24 or 16, and just what is the French for dendrochronology?RegardsS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poolguy Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 SimonDendrochronology (latin) will only tell you how old the tree was - not when it was felled and installed in your house. Anyway, you can do that yourself if you can count and have one of the strong illuminated magnifying glass thingys. Mind you you'll have to be looking at the endgrain or else take a core-sample to the heart of the beam (Which might weaken it or start insect or fungus attack). To find out how long it been there you'll need radio-carbon dating... in other words how much money do you have... double it and add some more and that be just fine.. then call you local University Physics Dept. Another (cheaper) way might be to find out when the house was built? Or maybe there is a signature of the craftsman who built the house somewhere, that can be date even more accurately. Just curious as to why you need such information???Not sure I have helped but anywayHappy New Year Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 No, that is not correct, dendochronology involves the analysis of the rings to assertain when the tree was alive, not just how old it was. There are specialist firms in the UK who will date your house from the trees from which it was built; admittedly the timbers used could have been re-used, but most houses use a majority of new wood, and the testing of a selection will give a fair idea. You can find further info here http://www.tree-ring.co.uk/ regardsSimon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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