The old town hall and school

In May 1881, the school, very old since mentioned as a boys' school during the visit in 1714 of Bishop Claude Maur d'Aubigné, was described as damp and unhealthy. The mayor, Théophile Démarest, wanted to build a new one, but the city council rejected the project.

With doggedness, he again submitted the project to the decision of the city council with, this time, a very different tactic. Indeed, during the meeting on Sunday, March 19th, 1882, “ the Mayor (Théophile Démarest) gives knowledge of Mr. le Préfet’s letter and that of the Inspector of Primary Education dated 1st March, both related to the project of building a school house, mentioning the inadequacy of the current school house, held for rent, and the dilapidated state of the teacher's accommodation and its unsanitary conditions, that the class itself is far from meeting requirements and that the schoolhouse that currently exists would not really, without improvement, answer its purpose. The city council, after reading the above letters, acknowledges the need for the construction of a school house, decides on its implementation and allows the Mayor to choose an architect to draw up the specifications and plans that would have to be submitted for approval to that council (ADSM 2 OP 206/1).”

The land closest to Ratiéville, owned by Cyrille Bosselin, was chosen for the construction of the town hall-school. With a capacity of 2000 square metres, it was acquired by the municipality on March 1, 1885 (Contract of sale in the presence of Mr. Dacheux, notary in Clères).

The project of the architect E. Fauquet (58 rue Ganterie in Rouen) proposed a classroom for thirty students to which adjoined two covered playgrounds (one for boys, one for girls) separated from the town hall and the teacher's accommodation by a double schoolyard.

It was approved reluctantly by the council on 26 Dec. 1884 and the contract for works awarded on 2 March 1885.

The construction was completed by the beginning of 1886.

If the electric current was brought to the town hall and the teacher's dwelling in 1930, it was not until 8 years later and at the request of Mrs. Julien, a teacher, that lighting lamps were installed in the school (ADSM 2 OP 206/1).

Sources: Patrice Bizet Fund, ADSM 2 OP 206/1