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Prieuré Saint-Georges

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Industrie Mécanique

The Engineering Industry

Do you know which world-famous product the Établissements de Vendeuvre developed?

Charles PROTTE
successor

BORN IN PONT LA VILLE IN HAUTE-MARNE

Jean-Baptiste PROTTE

(1815-1893)

The son of a family of paddle mill workers, he started his career as a mechanic.
He soon made a name for himself installing mills, mainly in the Aube region and especially in Bar-sur-Aube and Troyes.
A relentless worker exhibiting great wisdom, he received an increasing number of requests and opted to set up his own company under the name ‘Établissements PROTTE’. His frequent trips to Troyes led him to travel through Vendeuvre regularly. There he spotted an abandoned mill on the Barse River, ‘Le Moulin du Prieuré’ (the Priory mill), which he acquired in December 1843. The mill was located opposite an unoccupied meadow, which was, furthermore, surrounded by water.

From PROTTE to Établissements de Vendeuvre

1837: Foundation of the ‘Établissements PROTTE’
Thanks to the expertise of some twenty local metalworkers, he began manufacturing agricultural equipment: threshing machines, etc.
1863: Launch of the first PROTTE steam engine
He introduced dedicated workshops for the manufacture of machine parts (boiler making, forging, foundry, carpentry, etc.)
1900 - 1937: From the traction engine to the first Vendeuvre tractors
Backed by their visionary spirit, the Établissements de Vendeuvre (EV) acquired three factories specialised in engines in the early 20th century. The first (in Dieppe) operated in engines, the second (in Lomme-Lez-Lille) in flour mills, and the third (in Orléans) in seeders.
As early as 1920, the 400 rpm EV engines manufactured in the Dieppe factory replaced the bulky 1900 traction engines everywhere.
The Dieppe plant released its first 9-horsepower diesel engine running at 1000 rpm in 1930, and introduced its first tractor in 1937.

The Établissement de Vendeuvre (EV) and the war
During the successive conflicts (1870, 1914-1918, 1939-1945), EV experienced major disruptions (supply issues, enemy occupation, and destruction).
During the First World War, parts of the Vendeuvre factory buildings were commandeered to house a shelter to care for the wounded.
The 1950s: Reconstruction and outfitting for mass production.
Despite significant challenges resulting from the shortage of resources following the end of the war, EV undertook to restore the ruins and establish factories, new in both style and equipment, capable of mass-producing low-cost and flexibly designed equipment.
The 1960s: Takeover of the company by Allis-Chalmers.
In 1961, the Établissements de Vendeuvre marketed their last range of tractors, ‘the BL’, presented at the International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition, as well as the first range of Vendeuvre-Allis-Chalmers tractors. In 1967, the company changed its name to Allis Chalmers, and the factory manufactured forklift trucks and graders.
The plant closed around 1984 and the mechanical engineering vocation of the Vendeuvre factory was replaced by a joinery.
That’s another story…

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Industrie Mécanique

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Célébrités Vendeuvroises

The Renowned Figures of Vendeuvre

Do you know the famous people who conferred their names to some of our schools and streets?

POET BORN IN VENDEUVRE-SUR-BARSE

(1503–1550)

Nicolas BOURBON

His circle included François Rabelais and Hans Holbein, a painter and engraver whom he held in high regard and who sketched his portrait (see figure).
One of his earliest poems, ‘Ferraria’ (La forge), alludes to his origins and hometown, Vendeuvre, recognised for its forges and the manufacture of bombards (early cannons) since the 15th century. Today, his poem is an essential reference for those seeking to envision how a forge operated at that time.
He published his first poems in 1529, followed by the first edition of ‘Nugea’ (Bagatelles) in 1533, enticing the wrath of the religious authorities for portraying himself as favourable to the reformation.
This sufficed for him to be thrown into prison. He was not freed until early 1535 by King Francis I of France. Following his release, he journeyed to England and received the protection of Anne BOLEYN (second wife of Henry VIII).
Upon his return to France in 1536, he settled in Lyon where he socialised with a group of poets and humanists initially gathered around Etienne DOLET called the École lyonnaise.

Talented sculptors...

Considering the importance of the ‘Sainterie’ established by Léon MOYNET in Vendeuvre-sur-Barse, it is hardly surprising to find sculptors among the most prominent people of the town.

(1816–1875)

Joseph Théophile BOUTIOT

The son of modest farmers, he left school at the age of 12. Around 1840, leaving agriculture behind, he became a clerk at the city of Troyes Court. He took a great interest in geology, archaeology, geography, and history.
A member of the French National Geological Society, he was also a resident member of the Aube region Academic Society in 1852 and was appointed as president in 1872. His countless writings establish him as a renowned historian of Troyes and the southern Champagne region.
He did not overlook his native town in his research. This is displayed, in particular, in the following works: Geological essay on the Barse sources (1848), Le Valsurzeneth (1848), Historical information on Vendeuvre and its vicinity (1859–1860), and Biographical information on the Baron Pavée de Vendeuvre (1873).
Today, a nursery school bears his name in Vendeuvre.

(1854–1932)

Auguste Edmé SUCHETET

While his father, a builder, was working on the extension of the ‘Sainterie’ buildings, Léon MOYNET noticed the gifted young man and hired him as an apprentice sculptor. A few years later, convinced of his talent, he encouraged him to attend the Lyon School of Fine Arts.
In 1878, he received an honourable distinction at the Salon of French artists. He was awarded the Rome Prize in 1880 and made his debut at the Salon of Artists with ‘Biblis changée en source’ (a representation of Byblis), resulting in a three-year travel scholarship. He leaves us numerous works of art, including Le Rapt (1907) located on Place de la Libération in Troyes.

(1872–1912)

Ernest LEGRAND

Born in Lesmont, he attended the Troyes Design School, before being oriented to study design and sculpture in the Léon MOYNET workshop in Vendeuvre.
A talented sculptor, he pursued his education with Alfred BOUCHER (Camille CLAUDEL’s mentor). He had a distinguished career and was awarded the prestigious first prize from the Grand Prix de Rome for sculpture. Despite his short life, he produced an extremely prolific collection, including 10 pieces expressing the sensitivity and delicacy of a great artist, displayed in the Saint-Loup Museum in Troyes.

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Place de la Halle

The Place de la Halle

There was once a covered market hall in Vendeuvre, can you name some of the craftsmen and traders who worked there?

From 1760 to 1902

The first known covered hall in Vendeuvre was located Rue du Bourgetet. A fire destroyed the entire street, including the hall during the 16th century. It was not until 1760 that a new covered hall was built only to be demolished in 1902 as it no longer met demands and mainly required extremely costly maintenance work.
On Sunday 25 May 1902, the mayor, assisted by councillors and the Municipal Treasurer, proceeded with the adjudication of the materials for the demolition of the old covered hall. That same year, a new structure was erected combining a metal frame and brick walls in accordance with the techniques of the time
The work was conferred to contractors through a sealed bidding process with an overall price of 15,598 French francs.

Extract from the ‘Le Bulletin Vendeuvrois’ newspaper.
Issue dated 28 April 1895.
Fair of Saint-Georges, Vendeuvre.
‘We came with 95 cows, about twenty were sold for 300 to 450 francs. The market was rather quiet: only the farmers sold, the growers held up and did not sell.
There was a drop of 40 francs. We brought 6 horses which were not sold. There were 88 pigs which were sold between 38 to 50 francs a piece.’

From 1902 to the present day

This covered hall has hosted numerous events for the past 85 years, providing a venue for festivals, markets, plays, community events, and dances…
A number of traders and craftsmen worked in the lively hall on a daily basis. Amongst locals were CASIMIR, a cutler; COLLINET, a café and billiards parlour; DESCHARMES, a grower; JÉRÔME, a wheelwright; LEGROS, a carpenter, and GÉRARD, a wine merchant.
Nowadays, there are no longer any businesses left.
A letter of discontent dated 11 February 1966 signed by the mayor and addressed to the president of a sports association, as shown in the following extracts:
‘... The commune has graciously made the hall available to your association for the practice of sports activities during the cold season. You generally use this building once a week. The hall is also used as a party and assembly venue, and dances are often held there. However, today, in the presence of a municipal councillor and two municipal employees, I noticed the hall to be in a pitiful state. The walls are covered with a multitude of muddy ball marks, some up to 2 metres high. The low wall at the front of the stage more specifically is in an appalling state. The refreshment station has also been treated poorly. A number of folding chairs are partly broken. A big central light bulb is blown, this is actually the second one in a fortnight…’
In 1987, the city council decided to carry out work on the site.
Undertaking costly work on a neglected structure forced the elected representatives to consider its purpose. After much deliberation, the decision was made to demolish the building and establish a square in its place. The work was completed on 27 November 1989. The metallic parts of the hall are said to have been remounted in a Belgian municipality.