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Ramsgate – La Porte des beliers

Romorantin

Romorantin also has an industrial past. The family business of Normant Frères specialized in the production of woollen sheets. It was founded around 1815 by three brothers, Antoine (1784-1849), Jacques Benjamin (1793-1823) and René Hippolyte Normant (1796-1867), and disappeared in 1969, after an unique industrial adventure that lasted more than 150 years.

The Romorantin factory was then taken over by Matra Automobiles, until 2003. In 2011, only the monumental entrance known as Rams’ Gate, and the loom room, both listed as historical monuments, were able to escape the massive destruction of the site conducted by the municipality and aimed at rehabilitating the area which is close to the city centre.

Romorantin a également un passé manufacturier. L’entreprise familiale Normant Frères était spécialisée dans la production des draps de laine. Elle a été fondée vers 1815 par trois frères, Antoine (1784-1849), Jacques Benjamin (1793-1823) et René Hippolyte Normant (1796-1867), et a disparu en 1969, après plus d’un siècle et demi d’une aventure industrielle unique.

L’usine de Romorantin-Lanthenay a ensuite été reprise par Matra Automobiles, jusqu’en 2003. En 2011, seules la grande porte d’entrée dite des béliers et la salle des métiers à tisser, deux parties inscrites au titre des monuments historiques, ont pu échapper à la destruction massive du site conduite par la municipalité en vue de la réhabilitation urbaine du quartier qui est très proche du centre ville.

The right side of the same building.
The same building taken from the bridge over the Sauldre
Another industrial building that fortunately has been preserved.

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