A manor house in 12,000-m² tree-filled grounds, 100 km from Lille, in the Avesnois regional natural park - ref 677645
A manor house in 12,000-m² tree-filled grounds, 100 km from Lille, in the Avesnois regional natural park.
Saint-Hilaire-sur-Helpe is located in the southeast of the Nord area, in the heart of the Avesnois regional natural park. The village, through which runs the Helpe Majeure, a tributary of the River Sambre, is built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the river and several streams that flow through the wooded countryside. It owes its name to Hilaire de Poitiers, who was the first recorded bishop of Poitiers. The La Bringuette estate located in the municipality can be found near several heritage sites, such as Coûtant Castle, which was first built in 1288 and revamped in the early 17th century. The history books also tell that the famous explorer and Egyptologist Prisse d'Avennes was born at La Bringuette on 27th January 1807. All the essential services, amenities and shops can be found 4 kilometres away, in the town of Avesnes-sur-Helpe. Lille is 100 km away by road, while Valenciennes and Mons are 45 km away. The border with Belgium is just 20 kilometres away.
The manor house features on Cassini's famous map of 1754 and stands in walled grounds of more than 12,000 m². It also possesses outbuildings and an estate keeper's cottage. Its general layout already featured on the first land registry published in 1806 mentioning the edifices, which could be reached by an entrance tower. The land registry of 1868 indicated that the main residence possessed 32 doors and windows. The elevations are made of rough-hewn blocks of shale and bricks for the western façade overlooking the courtyard, while the rear, east-facing façade is made of bricks and Tournai stone. The construction was overhauled in 1927 following a fire and the façades were rendered. This two-storey building has a floor surface of approximately 300 m². It also boasts a first floor and a convertible attic also measuring 300 m², as well as a barn and a lean-to. The tree-filled grounds, divided into ornamental gardens, boast tall, hundred-year-old trees. It also includes a 64-m² estate keeper's cottage, which is currently unoccupied. The property is hidden away from prying eyes and only looms into sight after passing through the entrance gate.
The ground floorThis level can be reached from the courtyard, through a large wooden entrance door that opens into a hall leading to the kitchen, on one side, to the office and lounge, opposite, as well as a utility room, a lavatory, a bedroom with an en suite bathroom and the garage, on the other side. In the centre of the hall, an imposing wooden staircase leads to the upper floor. The adjoining office, lounge and dining room are all dual aspect rooms. The dining room, with its exposed beams, can also be reached from the courtyard via French windows and also opens out onto a patio. It is adjacent to the kitchen. The rooms are bathed in light through large windows and open directly at the rear onto the garden and its lush vegetation. The lounge boasts an imposing fireplace. The flooring is tiled throughout, though punctuated by embedded oak crossbeams.The first floorAt the top of the stairs, the landing is bathed in light through wide windows and leads to three vast bedrooms, a storage space, two shower rooms, a lavatory, an unfurnished room and a loft. Through the tall windows, a soft glow of light streams into the bedrooms, all of which are fitted with cupboard space and boast views over the garden. On this level, a door leads to the loft and up to the attic level, which still awaits conversion.The outbuildingsThese edifices are separate from each other and from the manor house. The estate keeper's cottage is situated to the right of the former main ...
