The Capitole
If the name "Capitole" suggests to Abbé Cochet (1812-1875) that, given the Gallo-Roman importance of Cailly, the place was occupied by a temple thus dominating the valley and the springs, it is with certainty that we know that a castle was built on this limestone spur, cut off from the plateau by a dry moat currently occupied by the rue du Marché.
Leon de Duranville (1803-1881), shares this analysis. He writes: "At the end of the last century, on a fairly high motte, ruins were still visible that produced some effects. They were destroyed, probably taken away as materials for vulgar constructions. However, it could make the glory of the village, inspiring a righteous pride to its inhabitants by reminding them of old memories and all the more so since this motte bore and still bears the name of Capitol. The use was established under the Roman emperors to give the name of Capitol to the temples and especially to those of the colonies. Maybe Cailly had its temple. This temple became the Capitol. In the Middle Ages it was made a fortified castle."
A castle the construction date of which we do not know but we know that Ralph was the first lord of the land of Cailly given by Rollon in 912.
In 1010, it was occupied by Osbern, Lord of Cailly and little cousin of William the Conqueror.
His grandson, William, embarked in 1066 for the conquest of England with some Caillais and fought alongside William the Conqueror. His bravery was recognized and the Norman poet of the 12th century Robert Wace quoted him as "loving to die better than fail, in the faith he owed to his Duke"
Guillaume de Cailly settled in England, and one of his descendants, Thomas de Cailly, sat in the English Parliament under Edward II. The surnames Cailly and Caillais transformed across the Channel and became 10 centuries later Sealy and Calleway.
In the 12th century, another Osbern of Cailly was to provide twelve horsemen for the service of Henry II, King of England. He died without a male heir and the castle, abandoned, was occupied in 1194 by a mercenary named Ranufle until 1197 when Richard, King of England and Duke of Normandy, took it back to reunite the lands with his crown.
Following the confiscation of the Duchy of Normandy in 1202, the lands of Cailly were attached to the crown of France.
Saint Louis donated them in November 1258 to the mighty Abbey of Saint-Ouen and a little later, Gaucher de Chatillon gave them to the Templars. They returned to the Crown of France after their confiscation, like all the possessions of the Templars in 1307 by Philippe Le Bel. It is likely that the castle was partly destroyed at that time.
Although ruined walls were still visible in the 19th century, they have now completely disappeared to make way for a house.