Aiseau

Aiseau (wa: Åjhô) is a village on the Biesme, near its mouth on the Sambre. It is part of the municipality of Aiseau-Presles in the province of Hainaut (Wallonia region of Belgium). It was a separate municipality before the Merger of Commons in 1977.

Traces of human presence date back to prehistoric times. In caves in Parc du Comte de Presles various bones were discovered of Neanderthal man dating back to the Paleolithic Era.

Later, during the Roman Empire, a Gallo-Roman villa was built at the southern end of the village (along Presles Road). A cistern was present. A cemetery was a few hundred meters further north, at the foot of Bois de Broue, along the rue d'Aiseau.

The village itself appeared in the tenth century, at a place called the "Hayettes." A farm was present in 952.

A mansion was built in the center of village. It was enlarged over centuries to be remodeled for the last time in 1721. It was destroyed in 1794 by French revolutionaries. In 1860, the village school took its place. Only part remaining today is the front porch with the arms of the last family that ruled the village, the "Gavre" porch. This building was then used as stables of the castle and by house servants. A few outer walls of the castle can also be seen along the rue du Curé.

Not far away, the "Baudecart Farm" was built as the farm of the Lord of the village. This farm still exists, although changed.

Hugo Oignies, the great Mosan goldsmith, worked at Priory Oignies. His work was conserved, which is exceptional. It was hidden in Falisolle during the French Revolution in 1818 and entrusted to the Sisters of Notre Dame in Namur. Today we can admire the largest part of the treasure in the museum the Sisters of Notre-Dame in Namur, the rest is kept in the parishes of Aiseau, Falisolle, Septic, Nivelles and Walcourt as well as Royal Museums of art and History in Brussels and the diocesan Museum of Namur.

Historically, Aiseau was a village dedicated to agriculture, logging, but also to the industry.

As evidence of development, several centuries of iron ore have been discovered. This activity leads to the creation and perpetuation of Forges d'Aiseau, factories located south of the village, along the Biesme. These products were exported around the world, including Mexico. But their location, far from the Sambre and railways, made it impossible to work there. These factories closed in the early twentieth century. Nowadays, the Somville Workshops produce light metals.

Wagons came from Aiseau coal mines. For centuries, coal was mined from various locations on the hillside. Two wells exist, one in Oignies (St. Henry's Well) and the other in Ménonry (the colliery Champfroment). A ventilation shaft was located not far from the place called " l'Etoile" (Star) 50 m behind Somville Workshops. Concrete wells are still visible today.

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Wikipedia