Ancienne abbaye Saint-Taurin

English translation

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History

Probably founded by the Duke of Normandy Richard I in the 10th century, this rich and powerful Benedictine abbey underwent destruction, reconstruction and reform (Maurist in 1642) until its sale in 1793. While the abbey church, which became the parish church, is its major element, other buildings have survived to the present day, such as the monastic enclosure (with portions of wall from the 13th century), the building adjoining the mill (14th century, remodelled in the 16th century), the abbot's residence (late 16th, remodelled 19th century), the pavilion built in 1758-1759, the wings of the cloister (16th century) and the mill. The latter is established within the monastic enclosure, to the north of a secondary arm of the Iton; it already appears on a plan of 1578. It is an 18th-century construction at ground floor and first floor level under roof, constructed of limestone rubble stone and brick, topped with a level of timber framing and comprising a mill and miller's house. The site underwent new works in 1825 with the creation of a spillway and sluice gates, and the installation of new machinery; only the wheel has since disappeared. The interest of this mill lies in its preservation, side by side, of wooden millstones from the 18th century and English-style devices from the 19th century (large gear wheel, side wheel, millstone, bolting chamber).