Ancien Hôtel du Premier Président du Conseil Provincial d'Artois, dénommé actuellement hôtel de Guînes

English translation

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History

Contemporary with the reconstruction of the former abbey of Saint-Vaast (around 1740), the hôtel de Guînes, one of the rare private mansions preserved in the city of Arras, is a necessary witness to the architectural and historical life of the 18th century, in the same way as the hôtel Dubois de Fosseux, current Cour des Comptes. 1738: beginning of construction work on the hôtel. 1792: sold as national property. 1870: Seat of the general receipt office. 1880: property of the Boyenval family: construction of a large winter garden, in cast iron and glass. 1914: the hôtel becomes the meeting place of a military circle. July 1915: fire and partial destruction of the hôtel. 1952-1953: the veranda is dismantled. The hôtel is composed of: a main dwelling body in U-shape, with two storeys of elevation of five bays, on a fairly high sandstone plinth; pitched roof in slate, pierced with two dormers in the axis of the second and fourth bays; service buildings (roof level lower) in U-shape, delimiting an interior courtyard: a single storey and an attic mounted on a high plinth; slate roof with curb, two dormers; main façade on rue des Jongleurs: a storey and an attic, curved central bay wider and set back; rear façade, in brick, traces of ruptures and piercings of openings on two storeys, five of which have white stone surrounds and projecting keys; a dormer in the axis; façades on the courtyard: symmetry of the dwelling body entirely in white stone, two storeys of elevation, two-pitched slate roof; three bays out of five form a pavilion where the decoration is concentrated: fluted pilasters with Doric capitals, historiated frieze, coffered panels inlaid with roses, triangular pediment in rocaille style, etc.; six paired openings of early 18th century style, keys of arches carved with women's heads, central bay dated 1740; wings in return of three bays and symmetrical; blind gables. Inside: three salons of the same volume on the ground floor of the dwelling body; parquet flooring, décor of wainscoting, fireplace and well-preserved ceiling, in the 18th century spirit, and probably enriched in the 19th century.