The wash houses of the Pays de Valois

During your strolls through the Valois region, you may have stumbled upon one of the many wash houses in our area. Witnesses to a past that may seem unusual today, these 19th-century places were much more than just spaces for washing clothes. True meeting places, they played a central role in the social lives of women.

Do you know the history of wash houses?

Mostly built in the 19th century , wash houses served a primary purpose: washing clothes to slow the spread of diseases such as cholera, measles, and smallpox, which were rampant at the time. Only women went to the wash house, sometimes accompanied by their children, spending long hours on their knees beating, rinsing, and wringing out the laundry. These places of labor thus became true hubs of social life. Village stories were shared, marriages were arranged, and songs were sung there.

The use of wash houses gradually ceased in the 20th century , giving way to washing machines. Nowadays, wash houses are part of our communities' heritage and are being gradually renovated to welcome visitors.

Zoom in on some wash houses at the heart of local heritage.

Morienval, between tradition and modernity

Morienval has many wash houses, often maintained and renovated, but the one in Saint-Denis is today the town's central wash house. Well-known to locals, it has become the meeting place for many local events in recent years. Frequently restored and preserved, this wash house is now a true living space near which you can find a fitness trail, a pétanque court, picnic tables, and even a checkers and chess set. Water will be restored in 2024, and you might even see some fish there! New renovations are planned soon to complete its beautification: renewal of the slate on the roof, restoration of one side of the roof frame, and the addition of lights. Beyond being a place of memory, the Morienval wash house is now an integral part of the town's life.

Story of a renovation: the washhouse of Béthancourt-en-Valois

The Béthancourt-en-Valois washhouse, a rare and unusual feature of the department, was built in the shape of a boat. It is accessible via a rural road and is fed by a spring near the Automne River. In 1995, due to its advanced state of disrepair, access to the washhouse was prohibited by a municipal decree. The municipality then decided to restore the building and rehabilitate the abandoned rural road. The restoration work, carried out in 1996, was entrusted to the Syndicat d'Étude et de Programming Valois-Développement for the washhouse and to the Green Brigades of Courtieux for the restoration of the road. Its restoration consisted of replacing the brick walls with stone and rebuilding the framework. The objective of this work was to transform this place into a walking area for residents and a point of interest for hikers.

10 years of renovations in Bonneuil-en-Valois

Eager to enhance local heritage, volunteers carried out extensive restoration work to restore one of the town's wash houses. They redesigned the access, built a frame and a roof to protect the spring, restored water to the wash house, and completely cleaned the site.

Events !

For 15 years, the Spring Washhouse Festival has been bringing our region's washhouses to life for a season with cultural events and moments of conviviality. It's the perfect opportunity for locals and visitors alike to (re)discover these places. Sometimes renovated, sometimes in ruins, washhouses always have a story to tell.

Starting May 17, numerous events will be offered in several towns in the Pays de Valois. To mark the kickoff of this 15th edition, the town of Morienval will open the festivities by welcoming the "Aux Cuivres Citoyens" brass band from Feigneux. To the rhythm of their instruments, the musicians will stroll through the town to the Saint-Denis washhouse, where a special event awaits you.

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