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Le Val History

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Le Val - History since 1301

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Le Val, 13th Century Feudal Manor

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Le Val was once a principal feudal estate in the parish of Le Ribay, having been built as a feudal manor it was originally enclosed by a deep moat and approached by a drawbridge.

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It is situated in the rolling hills of the Mayenne in north west France.

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The village of Le Ribay. Circa 1900

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Map

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History of Le Val - 1301 to date.

Le Val has a long and colourful history

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1301 - Geoffroy du Val
The first recorded proprietor of Le Val was "Geoffroy du Val", a protestant nobleman known to be against the King of France "Charles de Valois" in 1301.

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1392-1792 -The Du Moré Family
The du Moré family was one of the oldest and most important noble families in the region. They owned the property for thirteen generations, from 1392 up until the French revolution in 1792.

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Henri du More
Henri de Moré - Knight of Le Val -1651-1721

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16th Century - Jehan de Moré III
Jehan de Moré III was accused, convicted and decapitated at the Palace de Grève in Paris for a violent death against a neighbour.

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16th Century - Louis I de Moré, Knight and Lord of Le Val
Louis I de Moré, was believed to be the first family member who lived regularly at Le Val, and it is believed that he built the main, fortified house on the site between 1590-1630.

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1651-1721 - Henri de Moré
Henri de Moré was born in the house on 4th May 1651. He became a well loved priest who dedicated himself to his parish.
A biography of Henri de Moré was written and published in the 1850s, by Abbot Blin, who visited Le Val the same year in preparing for his book, where he describes the property in detail as he found it in 1856.

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1792 - The French Revolution
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Le Val is most specifically remembered for the date of 17 April 1792.
It is recorded that on this day approximately twenty republicans stormed the buldings of Le Val from three directions and ransacked the property. After destroying the crops they then "made pancakes with thirty pounds of butter". Encouraged by their leader to "eat, drink and be merry" they then drank half a barrel of Burgundy wine. Fortified by the wine, they then "stole the linen and furniture, killed the dog and burned all that was of no interest, forcing a member of the household to drive them by cart back to village of Javron-les-Chapelles".

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After the Revolution
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The property was then divided into two properties, but then came back to single ownership in the 19th century.
A water mill and bakery was added and the new family lived on the property for a further three generations.
The property is now a manor house.

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