The notes and documents of the fund describe agricultural practices, hedge landscapes, crops and coastal resources. They preserve the memory of activities that have shaped the life of the village.
Agriculture, hunting and fishing in Vierville
1 - Agriculture
Today
Two farms were still registered in 2007 on the municipal territory, but they both ceased their activities in 2008. These were the following operations:
- Mr. Buhours Jean (EARL de Saint Sever), Saint-Sever farm: counted for 82 cows.
- Mr. D'Hérouville Hippolyte, Formigny road farm: registered for 60 cows.
In 2009, there was therefore no longer an operating headquarters in the municipality.
Three quarters of agricultural land is now plow operated by headquarters located in other municipalities (about 11 farms, some in Louvières and Formigny).
Agricultural activity therefore remains strongly present even if the operating headquarters located in the municipality have disappeared in recent years.
An equine activity has recently been installed: the Haras de Laumarc, at the Vaumicel, a horse care center. This company is listed in chapter 33 Companies and Trades
There are also some small farms of less than 5 ha, run by retirees and obviously the widespread individual gardens.
Agriculture before the war
(established with various testimonies and childhood memories of a city dweller who came as a child on vacation to Vierville, and therefore to be corrected and completed...)
The area of the municipality is about 641 ha. The exploited area was probably about 600 ha, divided into several distinct activities, grasslands, apple orchards, plows, wood, a little market gardening, and complementary activities of the farms (farm, rabbits, pigs, sheep, etc.)
The marketing of the farm products was done in neighboring markets: livestock markets, dairy products and other products, in Bayeux, Trévières, Le Molay, and elsewhere?
Agricultural activities:
- 1 - grasses on most of the territory (the "bocage"), generally small "pieces" of land, surrounded by fairly thick hedges protecting them from the winds of the sea.
The peasants raised herds of cows of the Norman breed (in principle there was 1 ha per cow), providing milk, then meat (reform cows).
Very rarely were small herds of sheep, some goats and donkeys (for small milk transports for example). Pig farms too, especially for local needs.
Finally, some grasses neighboring the farms were used to feed draft horses (in principle there were 2 ha per horse) for transport needs and agricultural work. tractors were indeed non-existent in Vierville.
The cows were milked by hand by milkers (one milker for about 12 cows).
The farm itself produced the cream, milk, whey, and often the butter itself (probably in some farms only, existence of the first collective dairies??)
During the winter, cattle were often left in the grasses, with the exception of dairy cows and wet cows. The others, especially the bales, having returned to the stable only in exceptionally bad weather.
The winter food was provided by dried hay. Artificial fodder did not exist, nor did food provided by a non-existent agricultural industry. It was therefore necessary to reserve enough grassland for the production of grass to be transformed into hay.
The collection and drying of hay in June in the open air was the subject of all care, especially if the rain came to get involved. It was then necessary to mount it quickly in grinding wheels, small (veuillotes) and larger ones, which briefly protected a still wet hay that had to be withered, that is to say re-spread and return during good weather. Once dry, the hay was bundled by a specialist, the "botteleur", skilled at tying, with hay ties, portable men's back boots. These boots were transported in large chariots on horseback to the attics of farms, sometimes huge.
These grasses were generally supplied with water for livestock, naturally by natural seas, the water table never being far away. In the absence of ponds, some grasses were undervalued because of the need to feed a large stone or metal tank with tons of water or arm pumps drawing from the local water table.
The activity on the farm very often included the production of marketed milk, cream, whey, butter, cheeses (sometimes these productions were reserved for a few factories, where?).
Many grasses, especially those a little far from the sea, were planted with open-field apple trees, providing the population's common drink, common cider (gross ber and small ber, more or less elongated with water depending on the importance of the previous harvest), clogged cider, and sometimes calvados (boiled by the "boiling" that passed through the farms to produce local needs, duty-free for 10 liters of pure alcohol and per year). The manufacture of cider at the press of a farm (or by a traveling craftsman?) Was an opportunity for celebrations in the fall.
- 2 - labours occupied the lands of "the countryside", those that bordered directlyt the cliff and where the wind did not allow their protection by hedges. The cereals grown were generally wheat, barley, sarazin, oats -in large quantities for the needs of draft horses-, fan, with very limited yields compared to those we know today. Fertilizers were limited to natural manure produced on site. It was certainly necessary to respect the rules of crop succession on the same plowing.
The fund's notes indicate the return of flax cultivation in Vierville, after a long interruption. The corn was unknown, because it was unsuitable to the climate, because hybrids were not invented at that time.
Harvests were done in autumn or winter, with beating machines that moved from farm to farm, an opportunity to gather a very important workforce to supply the machine and store its production. Therefore also an opportunity for celebrations and significant consumption of cider.
- 3 - Some small woods (no more than 2 ha in total) existed, including 1 ha at the Château de Vierville, and some plots at the Château de Saint-Sever).
But most of the population's cooking and heating wood needs were ensured by the exploitation of the very numerous hedges (several tens of linear km at least, maybe 100 or 200?, or in equivalent perhaps a few tens of hectares?) They were composed of various species, elms in large quantities (now disappeared by disease, graphiosis), but also oaks, ash trees, chestnut trees, hazelnuts⟧, sérables, sycomores, hawthorns, wild cherry trees, elderberry, etc..., not to mention the brambles providing excellent blackberries in often extraordinary quantities.
In the hedges, the tall jet trees were pruned regularly every 7 years, leaving only a leafy tuft at the head of the tree. The branches thus collected (small various branches up to 5/6 cm in diameter) were connected in bundles, with iron wire, portable on the back of a man, transported on a banneau on horseback to the bonfires of farms and properties, to be used to feed the kitchen fireplaces and chimneys.
Opposite, on a banneau, transport of bundles from the Vignets to the village (Jean-Pierre Chedal and François Cordelle, winter 1938)
Firewood was provided by the trees to be felled, sawn with connebert or passe-partout, cut into logs, and broken at the corner and at the mass. Everything was handmade, the machines and especially the chain saws were unknown in Vierville.
In older times, the natural peat, which is under the sand of the beach, sometimes apparent, was exploited as heating fuel in the chimneys of the poorest households, especially in wartime, when better quality fuels, wood or coal, became inaccessible by the rise in their prices (in 1914-18 certainly). This very humid fuel had to be dried near the fireplace before being burned in the fireplace. The use of coal (boulets or anthracite) was reserved for large houses. Fuel heating was unknown, and propane and butane were still to come.
In recent years, it still happened that gardeners came looking for peat to serve as fertilizer.
- 4 - There was at least one gardener, named Saillard, who grew fruits and vegetables, chemin du Hamel to Prêtre (current home of the Boisnel family, near the old covered well). He had installed two greenhouses and made the markets, especially in Trévières. He sometimes went there on foot, pushing a car.
- 5 - Finally each farm or farmhouse was provided with vegetable gardens, fruit trees (pear trees, knife apple trees, rare cherry or peach trees, sometimes strawberries, currants, raspberries), flower gardens, and a scourt with various poultry, chickens, ducks (if a pond was available) and sometimes geese, turkeys, guinea fowl etc...
Inevitably there were rabbit s, fed by rabbit grass collected along the paths. Usually a pig was raised on the farm with the by-products still available.
- 6- Various activities
Shepherd
".... In 1899 there was a hard shepherd's hut in a land on Boulevard de Cauvigny, (Denys land today)...."
(according to Michel Hardelay).
It is therefore likely that sheep must have been sent to graze in and at the foot of the cliff in the past.
Work of linen (before 1900)
".... The inhabitants lived in a closed circuit and everything had to be produced on site, except metals. As weaving fibers, flax was grown - the path that bypasses Mrs. JACQUET's property is called "Chemin de la LINIERE", and linen was made ROUIR in the source of the "ROUTOIRS" (Boulevard de Cauvigny).
Two paths led to this source: one from the road from the "Hamel to the Priest", in front of the current property of Jean OLARD and through "The 4 sillons" joined the customs path, and the other from below passing over the beach or on the pebble ridge. The site was swampy
The cultivation of flax was abandoned...."
(according to Michel Hardelay)
Wild watercress collection
".... At the source of the "ROUTOIRS". (Cauvigny boulevard).
Two paths led to this source: one from the road from the "Hamel to the Priest", in front of the current property of Jean OLARD and through "The 4 sillons" joined the customs path, and the other from below passing over the beach or on the pebble ridge. The site was swampy and the watercress pickers came to find their fortunes at the foot of the cliffs....."
(according to Michel Hardelay)
Harvesting of wild reeds (for pressing cider apples)
".... A the source of the "ROUTOIRS". (Boulevard de Cauvigny).
.... The site was swampy and cider press owners came there in August and September to cut four-foot reeds to place between the beds of cut apples...". (according to Michel Hardelay)
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In 1940/50, farms had very different dimensions.
The largest farm was l'Ormel, route de Formigny (last farm on the left), operating about 150 hectares (partly outside of Vierville, in St-Laurent in particular), with about 100 cows, plows, many draft horses and a dozen agricultural workers. It was owned and operated by the Leterrier family, (Fernand Leterrier operated until his retirement around 1940, followed by his son Louis Leterrier from 1939 until his retirement several years after the war). After the departure of Louis Leterrier, the headquarters left the municipality and the farm buildings were divided in half and sold to serve as second homes to 2 families from the city.
See the chapter describing the Ormel
Opposite, the farm at the time of the Leterrier, between the two wars, with the many plow horses
The medium farms were at least a dozen, containing about 10 to 40 ha (i.e. as many cows).
Approximate list of medium farms existing during the war years, indicating the approximate area exploited at the time:
- farm of Crespigny or Crépigny, at the time farm of about 30 ha, last on the left on the Grandcamp road, (now renovated and second residence), operated by Léon Auvray during the war then by Marie after 1946, later by Raymond Coliboeuf then his son. The buildings were sold as a second home in the 2000s.
Opposite, the old building body, with the facade dovecote, in 1995
- farm of Normanville, about 40 ha, first farm road of Grandcamp, on the left after the castle, operated around 1940 by Borins (?) Then by Paul Houyvet. The buildings were sold around 1980/90 as a second home
- farm "Dubois", about 30 ha, Grandcamp road, 2nd farm on the right after the museum. It was the farm ofHyppolyte Dubois, mayor of Vierville from 1935 to 1941. The buildings are now a principal residence.
- farm "Lapersonne", about 15 ha, operated by Romain Auvray in 1944, Grandcamp road, 1st farm on the right after the old town hall. The buildings are from the 80s (?) Second home.
The 4 farms of the Grandcamp road, February 15, 1944
- farm "Blin", about 15 ha, Formigny road, penultimate house on the right, before the house of the Le Large family. The farmer Auguste Blin was also the farrier of the village, his forge was on Pavée Street, on the left. The buildings have become a second home in recent years.
Opposite, the old Blin farm, route de Formigny, recent photo
- farm of the Château des Isles, about 30 ha, route de Formigny, on the right, before the farm of l'Ormel which is on the left. It was exploited in 1944 by Henri Ygouf. The buildings became the main residence.
Opposite, the Isles domain on February 15, 1944, with the castle (destoyed on June 6 and 7, 1944) and the farm to the west and north of the castle.
- farm "Le Lieu Péronne", about 30ha, St-Laurent road, on the right at the exit of the village, exploited before the war by a brother Auvray then by Mr Piquenot during the war, before being taken over by the Laronche family around 1948..
In 2008, a farm headquarters (50 cows in 2008) was still in operation there (Daniel Laronche). Since the end of the operation, the buildings have become a secondary residence.
Opposite, the Lieu Péronne is located on the lower edge of the photo, which shows all the farms and farmhouses of Hamel-au-Prêtre and the Saint-Laurent road
- farm of the mansion du Vaumicel, about 50 ha?, with in addition pig breeding, horse breeding. Owned and exploited by François de Bellaigue, at the time. Farm buildings are now an equestrian center.
Opposite the Vaumicel on February 15, 1944, the castle to the Southwest and the farm to the North and East
- farm called Laronche, about 30 ha, chemin de Louvières, at the height of the Vaumicel, operator in 1944 not determined. Today several rental housing has been built there by Mr. Toscano
Opposite, the Laroche and Blin farms, February 15, 1944
- Vacqueville farm, 30 to 40 ha, in the hamlet of Vacqueville, operated at the time by the Lenourichel family. Today the buildings are main residence, cottage and guest rooms.
Opposite the hamlet of Vacqueville On May 24, 1944, the large farm is visible in the center of the photo.
- farm of the castle of Saint-Sever, about 40 ha, at the southern end of the municipality, the access path is at the crossroads of the Croix Mitard, at the end of the Louvières road. It was exploited around 1940 by a farmer, Mr. Foucher. Today the headquarters of land exploitation has been transferred outside Vierville.
Opposite, the farm and the castle, May 24, 1944
There were also many small farms or farms of a few ha with as many dairy cows. These very small farms were often in the hands of elderly people or agricultural workers employed on larger farms. They exploited less than 10/12 hectares of land with generally a few dairy cows, in addition to vegetable gardens, allowlands, and paddocks associated with almost all the homes in Vierville.
That was probably several dozen family homes (there were a total of about 80 homes in Vierville for 360 inhabitants).
Various examples of these small farms:
The small farms of Guerberue
- chemin de la Chasse au Frêne, small farm, Joseph Auvray, then Bonaparte, then Félix Anger, worker at the Ormel farm, and who gradually expanded his personal exploitation after the war. Below in 2007.
- St-Laurent road, on the left, home of father Elie (Mrs. Dumont's father), who had 7 or 8 cows on a farm at the Prix Hunt. He was killed (and his son injured) following a tragic misunderstanding during the fighting of June 6, 44 when American soldiers entered Vierville. See opposite on the left.
- chemin de Louvières, before the Laronche farm, small farm, Hue family with some cows. Today main residence. See below
The farms of the Louvières and Formigny roads - February 15, 44
- rue Pavée (on the right, after the butchery), about 10 ha, operated by the carpenter Dagoubert
- rue du Hamel au Prêtre, about 10 ha, family Poyet, currently residence of Mrs. Mary (see below)
The farms of Hamel-au-Prêtre and St-Laurent Road, February 15, 44
,- route de St-Laurent, on the left before the garage: a few ha, farm operated by Georges Victoire, (currently residence of Mrs. Vicq). See above
The small farms of Vacqueville,
May 24, 1944
- chemin de Vacqueville, small farm, 7 or 8 cows, today residence of the Watel family
- chemin de Vacqueville, small farm 3 or 4 cows, Letourneur
-route de St-Laurent, in Fosse-Taillis, on the left, at the entrance to chemin VC3 de la Falaise, a small farm, 10 ha?, now residence of the Porée family.
- chemin de Fosse-Taillis, to the right of the road, at the beginning of the rural path of Fosses-Taillis, 2 small farms. Today 2 residences of the Olard family.
The farms of Fosse-Taillis, May 24, 1944
- route de Formigny, near the presbytery, 3 cows, belonging to theAbbé Robert, parish priest from 1900 to 1940
By counting the hectares exploited, we arrive at
- Ormel farm: about 120 ha (on Vierville only)
- 11 medium farms: about 330 ha
- several tens of very small farms, forming about 150 ha scattered
There is therefore a total of about 600ha, while the municipality is 643 ha all-inclusive with roads, buildings, cliffs, moors and various unexploited.
Agriculture after the war, from 1946 to the present day
Significant transformation of agriculture and its environment:
- tractors, the first would have arrived at the Ormel farm towards the end of the 1950s
- artificial fertilizers,
- progressive mechanization of most activities,
- appearance of cooperatives, with the disappearance of the corresponding activities in Vierville, which were often provided on the farm
- considerable reduction in remedial activities such as lowland, rabbit farms, pig and sheep farms, hunting, river and shore fishing
- creation of public distribution of running water, including in grass land
- creation of collective sanitation and standardization of non-collective sanitation
- generalized development of electricity (appeared in the 1920s) and telephone (appeared at the end of the 1930s)
- modernization of the road, including widening and pavement coating
- gradual disappearance of small farms (rural exodus with population decrease),
- disappearance, reduction or relocation of certain trades or businesses: food, street shops, farrier, shoemaker, executioner, tobacco, cafes,
- appearance of the Monday mini market in Vierville
- reduced participation in the traditional markets of Trévières and Bayeux
- expansion of the remaining farms, then their gradual disappearance in favor of headquarters outside the municipality.
- change in crops: introduction of hybrid corn, artificial fodder, industrial livestock feed, reduction of grass in favor of plowing, reduction of hedges, etc...
- creation and disappearance of the CUMA, cooperative for the use of agricultural machinery
- etc...(to be completed and rectified)
2 - Hunting
The hunting activity with rifles was traditional:
- rabbits, hares, partridges, pheasants (natural game, there was no breeding before the war)
- wild boars and deer were confined before 1985 in important forests (Balleroy forest in particular). It seems that these games have arrived in Vierville in the last 25 years.
Personal memories:
During the war, rifles had to be deposited at the town hall (with the radio stations?).
- Around 1941/42, I participated in rabbit, collar or ferret hunts, probably illegal hunts.
- At the same time, I also attended a hare hunt with a greyhound at the Château de Vierville. The greyhound very quickly flushed out a hare in the woods and chased it for a few seconds at an incredible speed through the wood and the grass pit, catching up with the hare at the last moment when the animal was about to leave the field through the wooden barrier overlooking the Price Hunt.
At that time, the Fossé Gras was fenced by 1-meter walls along the Price Hunt. These walls were razed by the machines of American genius who needed wide roads and stones to stone them. Today the Price Hunt path is widened throughout the Fossé Gras.
3 - Fishing on the beach and under the cliff at the Percée
- before the war
Semi-professional foot fishermen See "marquis de la falaise"
- after the war
- today,