Ailly-le-Haut-Clocher
Encyclopedia
Ailly-le-Haut-Clocher is a commune
in the Somme
department in Picardie
in northern France
.
, the town is situated on a large plateau. Only the slightest undulation of the land is noticeable. 3 neighbourhoods can be distinguished: Ailly (the "centre") and the former hamlets of Famechon and Alliel.
Because this rural town is located on the roads serving Abbeville
and Amiens
, many locals work outside their community. In the 1930s, a factory making buttons of mother-of-pearl employed many Alliciens. Nowadays, economical life is reduced to two endive
producers, mixed farming and a few craftsmen.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
department in Picardie
Picardie
Picardy is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northern part of France.-History:The historical province of Picardy stretched from north of Noyon to Calais, via the whole of the Somme department and the north of the Aisne department...
in northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Geography
The commune liest about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Abbeville, at the junction of the national road N1 and the departmental road D32. Part of the old region of PonthieuPonthieu
Ponthieu was one of six feudal counties that eventually merged together to become part of the Province of Picardy, in northern France. Its chief town is Abbeville.- History :...
, the town is situated on a large plateau. Only the slightest undulation of the land is noticeable. 3 neighbourhoods can be distinguished: Ailly (the "centre") and the former hamlets of Famechon and Alliel.
History
The place name Ailly comes from the name "Alius", a Gallo-Roman, whose farm was located at the site of the present cemetery, on the national road. Aerial photography can pick out the farm boundaries. “Haut-Clocher” refers to the “high steeple”, because of the arrow-shaped characteristic of the church spire, that was used as an observation and triangulation point by the cartographers in charge of creating the Cassini maps of France in 1760.- Ailly’s former names were: Asliacum, Alliacus, Aliacus and Ally.
- A place known as the “Three Cities”, between Ailly and Famechon, is believed to have been a Gallo-Roman cemetery, where stone axes, stone coffins containing skeletons and medallions have been found.
- In 831, Ailly belonged to the abbey of Saint Riquier.
- Four fiefdomFiefdomA fee was the central element of feudalism and consisted of heritable lands granted under one of several varieties of feudal tenure by an overlord to a vassal who held it in fealty in return for a form of feudal allegiance and service, usually given by the...
s were created at Ailly: one held by Nicolas Deroussen, another by Jean Maye, a third one held by J. Belleborgue and the other by François de Bacouel. - In 1500, Catherine de Fosseux, married Robert d’Ococh ,
- Ailly was sold to Josse of Beauvarlet, mayor of AbbevilleAbbevilleAbbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
. - In 1546, the church was burnt down by marauders. 130 inhabitants that had taken refuge in the building were killed. The leader of the arsonists was himself burned at the stake at AbbevilleAbbevilleAbbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
on 16 July 1546. 10 years later, the new arrow spire was constructed by François Glassant, carpenter. - In 1615, Ailly was ravaged by the troops of the Maréchal d'AncreConcino ConciniConcino Concini, Count della Penna, Marquis et Maréchal d'Ancre , was an Italian politician, best known for being a minister of Louis XIII of France, as the favourite of his mother.-Life:...
(who was later murdered on 25 April 1617). - In 1639, War against Spain, Ailly was pillaged by French troops of Charles de La Porte.
- During September 1849, Victor HugoVictor HugoVictor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
passed through the town.. He noted that there were a few signs of choleraCholeraCholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
. - Freak hailstorms devastated the town in 1885.
Places and monuments
- Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church: Classified historic monument, dating back to the 13th century. The sundial on the south facing wall of the structure, is not very visible except in favorable conditions, such as at the end of a sunny day.
- Monument to the dead: Erected just to the south of the church.
People
- Pierre d'AillyPierre d'AillyPierre d'Ailly was a French theologian, astrologer, and cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church....
, bishop of Cambrai and cardinal of Rome, was a native of Ailly. - John-Baptiste Honoré Deroussen, Lawyer to Parliament (1748–1804).
- Ernest Deroussen, Army infantry officer, killed in the assault on the Malakoff TowerMalakoff TowerMalakoff Tower is a tower located in Recife Antigo, Recife. This monument was built between 1835 and 1855 to be used as an observatory and as the main entrance and gateway for Arsenal da Marinha square...
at Sebastopol, decorated with the Legion of Honour.
Facilities and economical life
The town has a primary school, a high school and is equipped with several athletic facilities.Because this rural town is located on the roads serving Abbeville
Abbeville
Abbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
and Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
, many locals work outside their community. In the 1930s, a factory making buttons of mother-of-pearl employed many Alliciens. Nowadays, economical life is reduced to two endive
Endive
Endive , Cichorium endivia, is a leaf vegetable belonging to the daisy family. Endive can be cooked or used raw in salads.-Background:Endive is also a common name for some types of chicory...
producers, mixed farming and a few craftsmen.