Ancienne manufacture royale de draps dite "le Dijonval"

English translation

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History

Decided after the annexation of Sedan to the Crown in 1646, and symbol of Colbertism - despite its construction after the ministry of the servant of Louis XIV - this prestigious manufactory received the privilege of exploiting fine cloth, in the manner of Holland, granted to three Parisian merchants, and notably to Nicolas Cadeau. A majestic central body of twenty-five bays, at three levels plus two levels of dormers, topped by a bell tower, bears the date 1755. It connected to the primitive elements of the 17th century. Nicolas de Quatremère had these parts of the 17th century removed and put in place two wings in return, of which the west wing is an imitation, remade identically in 1851. The U-shaped layout taken as the expression of an architectural classicism applied to manufactories is the result of decisions substantially later. These large industrial buildings had the function of storing wool before distribution to craftsmen working from home, and of grouping woven goods for finishing operations: napping, degreasing, then spreading, re-threading, nopping. In the 19th century, the Dijonval was not spared from mechanization and used a steam engine, workshops were added which have since been demolished.