Habitation Ducharmoy

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

In the 1650s, the Jesuits receive a large land concession which they sell to private individuals in the 18th century. A sugar works is then created. In 1759 during the English attack, the property is partly destroyed. At the Revolution, it is placed under sequestration. In 1825, the cyclone destroys the buildings and part of the harvest. The main house is rebuilt, as is part of the roofing of the industrial buildings. This is a traditional dwelling-sugar works. Between 1850 and 1887, new work is undertaken. Around 1890, the sugar works is transformed into a distillery, functioning until 1945. During the second half of the 20th century, the property is subdivided and the majority of the land parcelled out. On the upper terrace stands the main house with, at the rear, the coffee-drying house and a little further on the cemetery. A monumental staircase leads to the intermediate terrace where the workers' cottages are set against the retaining walls. A second flight of steps allows one to reach the area of the industrial buildings. The buildings are of rubble stone masonry of volcanic stone. The workers' cottages are of wood, as is the coffee-drying house. A diversion of the Le Pelletier canal provided the dwelling with water.