Winter 2018, the roofers are here!
The framework of half of the south facade is repaired, with 40% of new wood. This 1380 framework is thus largely saved and now restored. The two big crosses of Saint Andrew that we were afraid to lose, are kept and re-installed.
What a joy to see this beautiful roofing framework rafters that form the truss renewed and resettled for many centuries!
In December, the roofers, Stéphane and Renaud, settled down in the premises and completely renovated this framework to prepare the slate roof. The works will start on January 15, 2018.
The carpenters are more numerous during this time, there are 4 of them on the site permanently (Thierry, Alain, Charles and John).
The works are colossal for them.
The floors are late, and they must be finished.
The new molded joists that will replace all those that have disappeared, have arrived. In the end of January the first one was placed on the walls partly preserved. However all of them have to be reinstalled and made secure.
During the same period, the carpenters had to dismantle the framework of the big turret piece by piece.
It is situated on the ground of the old castle, in the moats, which have almost been up again at the height of the floods.
Charles has the beautiful mission to reconstruct the clutter of this framework in the form of spider web expanded on 4 floors.
After replacing the lintels and supports of the 12 bays that required it, Julien with the masons prepared the leveled walls of the walkway to install this framework next March.
The three masons must resettle the stone cornices, but also solidify the walls by anchoring the large girders inside the walls of the walkway. Between two rain showers, they had only a few hours to restore the 3 chimneys of this first part of work. Finally, they have ensured the "putting together" of the south facade.
In four months the work was colossal. It was conditioned by a hostile weather. Rarely as much wind and rain fell on these old walls. Like the whole team, they resisted! The schedule is tight ... but overall we are still on time ...
The crucial moment will come with the successful installation of the large turret before the end of March and the removal of scaffolding with the purpose of launching the second part of works in early April.
What a joy to see this beautiful roofing framework rafters that form the truss renewed and resettled for many centuries!
In December, the roofers, Stéphane and Renaud, settled down in the premises and completely renovated this framework to prepare the slate roof. The works will start on January 15, 2018.
The carpenters are more numerous during this time, there are 4 of them on the site permanently (Thierry, Alain, Charles and John).
The works are colossal for them.
The floors are late, and they must be finished.
The new molded joists that will replace all those that have disappeared, have arrived. In the end of January the first one was placed on the walls partly preserved. However all of them have to be reinstalled and made secure.
During the same period, the carpenters had to dismantle the framework of the big turret piece by piece.
It is situated on the ground of the old castle, in the moats, which have almost been up again at the height of the floods.
Charles has the beautiful mission to reconstruct the clutter of this framework in the form of spider web expanded on 4 floors.
After replacing the lintels and supports of the 12 bays that required it, Julien with the masons prepared the leveled walls of the walkway to install this framework next March.
The three masons must resettle the stone cornices, but also solidify the walls by anchoring the large girders inside the walls of the walkway. Between two rain showers, they had only a few hours to restore the 3 chimneys of this first part of work. Finally, they have ensured the "putting together" of the south facade.
In four months the work was colossal. It was conditioned by a hostile weather. Rarely as much wind and rain fell on these old walls. Like the whole team, they resisted! The schedule is tight ... but overall we are still on time ...
The crucial moment will come with the successful installation of the large turret before the end of March and the removal of scaffolding with the purpose of launching the second part of works in early April.
Summer 2017, work is progressing at a good pace!
The progress of the site is visible despite of the summer break.
The installation of the scaffolding took more time than expected. It reduced the two months ahead progress of the 2016 schedule to one. But it's already a small feat! Congratulations to all the companies involved. Now the challenge is to keep this lead and finish the first of the three installments of work until the end of March 2018.
This first part of works is certainly the most important. It concerns the south facade of the Castle, the one overlooking the river Allier with three series of 4 large windows, opened in the 17th century in the surrounding wall, 10 feet wide in some places. This area also concerns floors that have disappeared, and especially the turrets under one of which the framework is to be completely replaced.
The ivy that covered the old walls was completely removed on the south facade, showing a severe attack on the masonry. The walls are therefore heavily damaged in some places and require more important reparation than expected. The big cracks of the ground floor are already treated, with a good surprise! These cracks were related to stone facing placed on the surrounding wall of the castle. The latter was pierced at the time of opening of these large bays. On the other hand, the inside of the surrounding wall shows more important fragility.
Large amounts of lime-based grout have been spilled into these old walls, using garden hoses and bottles of water to resolidify it. The team of three masons of the "Jacquet" company made the old wall drink a lot. During the summer they managed to secure and prepare the walls for carpenters and repaired the part of the walkway in this area. They have discovered a magnificent mullioned window that the archaeologists of the building date back to the 13th century.
Meanwhile, the two carpenters of the company "Les Métiers du Bois" are not left behind. The casing was put on the framework of the southern zone to allow its dismounting piece by piece without a risk. A floor was laid and 3 of the 4 old main beams that held the floors are cut and filed. This is the bad news! We hoped to keep more than one out of four. The same thing happened with the joists. In short, more buying of new wood will be necessary. It's a bad move for the budget! Especially since the preserved wood needs to be consolidated at one of its extremities. A treatment via a hyper-resistant resin is added to the beam which thus will be saved, thanks to a technique of the company "Renofors".
In the end of July, the walls of the whole area are consolidated. The 4 main beams that support the floors are placed. And the first of 6 floors to install is installed. In August the construction site stops for 3 weeks. We feel that things are in good hands and well on their way.
The installation of the scaffolding took more time than expected. It reduced the two months ahead progress of the 2016 schedule to one. But it's already a small feat! Congratulations to all the companies involved. Now the challenge is to keep this lead and finish the first of the three installments of work until the end of March 2018.
This first part of works is certainly the most important. It concerns the south facade of the Castle, the one overlooking the river Allier with three series of 4 large windows, opened in the 17th century in the surrounding wall, 10 feet wide in some places. This area also concerns floors that have disappeared, and especially the turrets under one of which the framework is to be completely replaced.
The ivy that covered the old walls was completely removed on the south facade, showing a severe attack on the masonry. The walls are therefore heavily damaged in some places and require more important reparation than expected. The big cracks of the ground floor are already treated, with a good surprise! These cracks were related to stone facing placed on the surrounding wall of the castle. The latter was pierced at the time of opening of these large bays. On the other hand, the inside of the surrounding wall shows more important fragility.
Large amounts of lime-based grout have been spilled into these old walls, using garden hoses and bottles of water to resolidify it. The team of three masons of the "Jacquet" company made the old wall drink a lot. During the summer they managed to secure and prepare the walls for carpenters and repaired the part of the walkway in this area. They have discovered a magnificent mullioned window that the archaeologists of the building date back to the 13th century.
Meanwhile, the two carpenters of the company "Les Métiers du Bois" are not left behind. The casing was put on the framework of the southern zone to allow its dismounting piece by piece without a risk. A floor was laid and 3 of the 4 old main beams that held the floors are cut and filed. This is the bad news! We hoped to keep more than one out of four. The same thing happened with the joists. In short, more buying of new wood will be necessary. It's a bad move for the budget! Especially since the preserved wood needs to be consolidated at one of its extremities. A treatment via a hyper-resistant resin is added to the beam which thus will be saved, thanks to a technique of the company "Renofors".
In the end of July, the walls of the whole area are consolidated. The 4 main beams that support the floors are placed. And the first of 6 floors to install is installed. In August the construction site stops for 3 weeks. We feel that things are in good hands and well on their way.
The administrative life of the project brings good news and some concerns about the future of the discoveries!
The spring has left us with the fear of a budget overrun for archaeological research. Fortunately, the Regional Department of Archeology and the Regional Department of culture (hereinafter – DRAC) of Bourgogne Franche Comté have mobilized to find a solution. The two preventive archaeological digs made in February and March 2017 will be borne by the National Fund for Preventive Archeology. It therefore has no impact on the restoration budget. We also had the risk of a work shift during the archaeological research.
Here again, the Department of Heritage of the Ministry of Culture has found a solution by allowing restoration companies and archaeologists to work together and at the same time. It turned out to be extremely positive. In agreement with the SRA, we have reserved the works on research in archeology of the building for the “Center of Medieval Studies". We look forward to sharing the key findings of this report on this page!
Each month that passes brings new interesting discoveries, that give more character to the old castle. We found:
- in April, a rounded door of the 15th century is discovered almost intact,
- in May – a window with mullion of the 13th century,
- in June – a stone frame of door and two windows of the 12th century,
- in September the "dolium" and the latrines of the 14th century.
All these elements were not visible in the 18th century, a period chosen as the restoration principle. Long discussions then began to discuss the place we attribute to these discoveries. The balance between what we would like to keep and the respect for the architecture as it was in the 18th century is difficult, but the exchanges are interesting. The "dolium" will remain forever underground, and the 12th century door and windows will remain hidden. But our goal is to keep the mullion window and the 15th century door. The work of the architect to treat this issue respecting the 18th century bias is highly anticipated!
The debate on colors begins. We are far from finishing, but we must put the castle in its 18th colors. It means painting the beams and joists as they were in the 18th century. And we should avoid a bad yellow giving the preference to a blue gray. But we are far from the beams and joists in the raw state as we hoped.
The spring has left us with the fear of a budget overrun for archaeological research. Fortunately, the Regional Department of Archeology and the Regional Department of culture (hereinafter – DRAC) of Bourgogne Franche Comté have mobilized to find a solution. The two preventive archaeological digs made in February and March 2017 will be borne by the National Fund for Preventive Archeology. It therefore has no impact on the restoration budget. We also had the risk of a work shift during the archaeological research.
Here again, the Department of Heritage of the Ministry of Culture has found a solution by allowing restoration companies and archaeologists to work together and at the same time. It turned out to be extremely positive. In agreement with the SRA, we have reserved the works on research in archeology of the building for the “Center of Medieval Studies". We look forward to sharing the key findings of this report on this page!
Each month that passes brings new interesting discoveries, that give more character to the old castle. We found:
- in April, a rounded door of the 15th century is discovered almost intact,
- in May – a window with mullion of the 13th century,
- in June – a stone frame of door and two windows of the 12th century,
- in September the "dolium" and the latrines of the 14th century.
All these elements were not visible in the 18th century, a period chosen as the restoration principle. Long discussions then began to discuss the place we attribute to these discoveries. The balance between what we would like to keep and the respect for the architecture as it was in the 18th century is difficult, but the exchanges are interesting. The "dolium" will remain forever underground, and the 12th century door and windows will remain hidden. But our goal is to keep the mullion window and the 15th century door. The work of the architect to treat this issue respecting the 18th century bias is highly anticipated!
The debate on colors begins. We are far from finishing, but we must put the castle in its 18th colors. It means painting the beams and joists as they were in the 18th century. And we should avoid a bad yellow giving the preference to a blue gray. But we are far from the beams and joists in the raw state as we hoped.
May 6-7-8, volunteer sites. You too can participate in a convivial way to rescue the Castle of Meauce.
We have received numerous requests from people of all ages, from all regions, to share collectively a concrete moment of action in favor of Meauce's heritage.
We therefore organize small, simple construction sites for up to 40 people. See photo report below. Contact us for the construction sites to come!
We therefore organize small, simple construction sites for up to 40 people. See photo report below. Contact us for the construction sites to come!
1st quarter of 2017: A time to obtain authorizations, and organize the launch of the site: a record obtained by everyone’s mobilization.
Two cases were submitted to obtain the necessary authorizations for the beginning of the works.
Castle of Meauce is fully listed by decision of the National Classification Commission of December 12, 2016. But the decree is not yet published. So we have to make and submit two cases, one for the “historic monument” classified parts and the other for the “historic monument” registered parts. The file for the classified parts is sent directly to the DRAC, that for the registered ones is filed to the town hall.
This double raceway requires more effort, and above all it requires a double explanation, a double tracking to avoid delays. Even more difficult is the analysis. It is not the same at all for the construction and the environment law (the castle is situated in a registered natural zone) and for the heritage code in the part concerning the classified parts.
In short, after a few anxious moments due to the protected status of the Bec d’Allier, everything went at a record speed. The various participants took time to discuss Meauce and the DRAC orchestrated this with great efficiency. We sincerely thank, the ABF Philippe Lamourère, the Mayor of Saincaize Gérard Aubry and the secretary of the town hall, Mr. Régis Wenzel, the DRAC and the DDT of Nièvre for this collective performance!
The only issues yet to deal with are some instructions formulated by the DRAC. Those concerning the restoration bias were included in the project (e.g. removing the glued laminated timber proposed for the areas with no trace of the old woods, collapsed ceilings and frameworks. As a consequence – global restoration in oak). However the instructions on the preventive diggings, though interesting for a better understanding of the castle of Meauce, significantly increase the cost of the project. Exchanges are still held with the DRAC to study how it is possible to reduce the cost and impact on the works.
As a result, everything is in order and the works will start two and a half months beforehead. On March 21, all the professionals were gathered to organize, plan and prepare this part of work. On April 19, the companies Jacquet, Métiers du Bois, Bardot begin the first of three phases of work.
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The study and preparation phase: from July 2, 2016 to December 31, 2016
The architect in charge of the Meauce Castle restoration is chosen and validated by the DRAC. This is Charlotte Hubert who will be responsible for the study phase, diagnosis, pre-project, project and follow-up of the construction works.
We were lucky to meet her a year ago, long before owning Meauce Castle. We were able to work together on the restoration project. To intervene on a registered classified monument, the architect is necessarily a heritage graduate and must demonstrate 10 years of experience in historical monuments. This is the case of Charlotte, who graduated from the Caillot architect school DPLG. She is also the ÉNSA Paris Belleville graduate. Charlotte is also taking the ACMH contest (Chief Architect of Historical Monuments). An associate of two firms, H2O and Eugene-architect, Charlotte has participated in the restoration of the Familistère de Guise, the castle of Bonnemare, the Jumièges abbey and Laffitte House castle. The study phase will be completed and presented to the DRAC by mid September 2016 It consists of: - diagnosis of the sanitary condition of the building; - realization of architectural analysis (what elements were or were not present in the 17th, 16th, 14th centuries), to define the target of restoration; - conducting historical research to understand the evolution of Meauce's architecture; - implementation of the project with project costing and its priorities; spreading of the project over the 3 years of construction site from 2017 to 2019. A study was commissioned by the State in 1998. It will be presented briefly in an article of the blog. It can be interesting to compare the two proposals of the two architects. At the same time the first emergency and site preparation works are carried out. The first construction site meeting is planned for July 18. Right after, the works to free space for scaffolding begin. They also aim to find a complete view of the building, remove and sort the gravel. - The framing work is carried out by “Les métiers du bois” company - security work, masonry and rubble removal is carried out by “Jacquet” from Bourges; - the pruning work was undertaken by the company “Kremer” from Premery and by “Paysages et Cimes” from Langeron - and for all the rest, family, friends and some volunteers! Thank you all! |
On September 13, DRAC and ABF came to Meauce. Charlotte Hubert presented the project and the restoration bias. The project was welcomed by the DRAC which should keep our choice.
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In August some nice surprises were discovered , like a 15th century molded door.
In September, the access way for the machines and the scaffolding was organized. We have got an impression of an athletic track around the castle!
The scaffolding is placed in the courtyard of the castle to clear the rubble and old joinery. The rubble is almost all out late September.
In September, the access way for the machines and the scaffolding was organized. We have got an impression of an athletic track around the castle!
The scaffolding is placed in the courtyard of the castle to clear the rubble and old joinery. The rubble is almost all out late September.
