Two tile kilns 700 metres apart have been discovered and excavated in a small valley already farmed in the Middle-Ages by the Charme priory nuns. This establishment founded in the very early years of the 12th century, was a dependency of the order of Fontevraud. The presence of clay determined the development of a tile working industry; hydraulic works were carried out in order to obtain the water supply necessary for the making of the tiles. The wood supply came from the extensive wooded estates close by the priory.                    The earlier tile works were abandoned before the beginning of the 16th century, while the later were in use during the 17th and 18th centuries. The way the site was run, in indirect exploitation during the Modern period, could be determined thanks to the detailed study of the tenancy agreements. The good preservation of these tile works gives a clear view of their functioning, from the clay digging to the storage of the goods, before their transport. Thus, the different stages of the operative chain could be described, allowing a reconstruction of the spatial organization within the tile works. The goods, mostly hooked tiles, were compared to other regional productions.

Traduction : Margaret & Jean-louis CADOUX