These two old items, which are now rarities, were used to fill up on fuel. In France, the first petrol pumps did not appear until the end of the Second World War. The invention of the car in 1885 revolutionised transport methods. However, the first car owners had to buy their petrol in 5-litre containers, which were sealed by the national government to avoid fraud. These containers were available in a wide range of shops. This rather impractical supply method was gradually replaced in the inter-war period by distributors like these two pumps. They were generally managed by general grocer’s shops.

These type of pumps, called “bi-jaugeurs” (dual-measurers), had the reassuring advantage of giving the customer an indication of the quantity and quality of the fuel purchased, as the motorist could watch the petrol that would fill the tank running through the two transparent containers. The round, clock-like indicator dial measured the exact quantity of fuel supplied. However, these distributors were inconvenient in that they could only provide instalments of 5 litres. It was therefore impossible to get a full tank without also risking it overflowing.

These types of petrol pumps were used until the 1950s.

These two old items, which are now rarities, were used to fill up on fuel. In France, the first petrol pumps did not appear until the end of the Second World War. The invention of the car in 1885 revolutionised transport methods. However, the first car owners had to buy their petrol in 5-litre containers, which were sealed by the national government to avoid fraud. These containers were available in a wide range of shops. This rather impractical supply method was gradually replaced in the inter-war period by distributors like these two pumps. They were generally managed by general grocer’s shops.

These type of pumps, called “bi-jaugeurs” (dual-measurers), had the reassuring advantage of giving the customer an indication of the quantity and quality of the fuel purchased, as the motorist could watch the petrol that would fill the tank running through the two transparent containers. The round, clock-like indicator dial measured the exact quantity of fuel supplied. However, these distributors were inconvenient in that they could only provide instalments of 5 litres. It was therefore impossible to get a full tank without also risking it overflowing.

These types of petrol pumps were used until the 1950s.

These two old items, which are now rarities, were used to fill up on fuel. In France, the first petrol pumps did not appear until the end of the Second World War. The invention of the car in 1885 revolutionised transport methods. However, the first car owners had to buy their petrol in 5-litre containers, which were sealed by the national government to avoid fraud. These containers were available in a wide range of shops. This rather impractical supply method was gradually replaced in the inter-war period by distributors like these two pumps. They were generally managed by general grocer’s shops.

These type of pumps, called “bi-jaugeurs” (dual-measurers), had the reassuring advantage of giving the customer an indication of the quantity and quality of the fuel purchased, as the motorist could watch the petrol that would fill the tank running through the two transparent containers. The round, clock-like indicator dial measured the exact quantity of fuel supplied. However, these distributors were inconvenient in that they could only provide instalments of 5 litres. It was therefore impossible to get a full tank without also risking it overflowing.

These types of petrol pumps were used until the 1950s.

It was built in 1834. In the 19th century, there were no town halls as we know them now in small communes and the inn was most often used as the town council’s meeting and debating place. It was not until 1880 that town halls became mandatory in municipalities.

However, in the 1820s, the mayor of Évaux and a group of townspeople decided to establish a building that could bring together several functions: a market for trading (characterised by the large arcades typical of market halls), a debating room for the town council and justice of the peace, as well as space for the municipal administration. After several incidents, the Évaux-les-Bains town hall was built in the 1830s in the municipality’s market town.

It was built in 1834. In the 19th century, there were no town halls as we know them now in small communes and the inn was most often used as the town council’s meeting and debating place. It was not until 1880 that town halls became mandatory in municipalities.

However, in the 1820s, the mayor of Évaux and a group of townspeople decided to establish a building that could bring together several functions: a market for trading (characterised by the large arcades typical of market halls), a debating room for the town council and justice of the peace, as well as space for the municipal administration. After several incidents, the Évaux-les-Bains town hall was built in the 1830s in the municipality’s market town.

It was built in 1834. In the 19th century, there were no town halls as we know them now in small communes and the inn was most often used as the town council’s meeting and debating place. It was not until 1880 that town halls became mandatory in municipalities.

However, in the 1820s, the mayor of Évaux and a group of townspeople decided to establish a building that could bring together several functions: a market for trading (characterised by the large arcades typical of market halls), a debating room for the town council and justice of the peace, as well as space for the municipal administration. After several incidents, the Évaux-les-Bains town hall was built in the 1830s in the municipality’s market town.

This is half-timbering, a wall structure that is built with wooden beams, in between which is inserted a filling material (known as “hourdage”) that can be made up of cob (applied on a trellis) or bricks (often coarse) that are covered in plaster. This technique, which has existed since antiquity, was used in France between the Middle Ages and the 19th century.

This house also has another defining feature that is often associated with timber framing: corbelled windows, jutting out from the first floor overhanging the ground floor. The term “corbelled windows” originates from the corbels, which are the pieces of wood that protrude to support the construction.

Building corbelled windows allowed the owner to save on the surface of the house in relation to expropriation of its flooring. It also had the advantage of reducing taxes, which were calculated according to the area of the ground floor. This house, which is the oldest in Évaux, appeared on the 1838 Napoleonic land registry as belonging to a notary, Mr Michaud.

This is half-timbering, a wall structure that is built with wooden beams, in between which is inserted a filling material (known as “hourdage”) that can be made up of cob (applied on a trellis) or bricks (often coarse) that are covered in plaster. This technique, which has existed since antiquity, was used in France between the Middle Ages and the 19th century.

This house also has another defining feature that is often associated with timber framing: corbelled windows, jutting out from the first floor overhanging the ground floor. The term “corbelled windows” originates from the corbels, which are the pieces of wood that protrude to support the construction.

Building corbelled windows allowed the owner to save on the surface of the house in relation to expropriation of its flooring. It also had the advantage of reducing taxes, which were calculated according to the area of the ground floor. This house, which is the oldest in Évaux, appeared on the 1838 Napoleonic land registry as belonging to a notary, Mr Michaud.

This is half-timbering, a wall structure that is built with wooden beams, in between which is inserted a filling material (known as “hourdage”) that can be made up of cob (applied on a trellis) or bricks (often coarse) that are covered in plaster. This technique, which has existed since antiquity, was used in France between the Middle Ages and the 19th century.

This house also has another defining feature that is often associated with timber framing: corbelled windows, jutting out from the first floor overhanging the ground floor. The term “corbelled windows” originates from the corbels, which are the pieces of wood that protrude to support the construction.

Building corbelled windows allowed the owner to save on the surface of the house in relation to expropriation of its flooring. It also had the advantage of reducing taxes, which were calculated according to the area of the ground floor. This house, which is the oldest in Évaux, appeared on the 1838 Napoleonic land registry as belonging to a notary, Mr Michaud.

Under the Ancien Régime, the gabelous were customs officers responsible for tracking and arresting those who smuggled salt. In fact, the tax on salt, which was known as the gabelle, was very expensive in some provinces of the kingdom and much less so in others. The County of La Marche, where Évaux is found, was redeemed, meaning that it no longer paid the gabelle, instead obtaining this essential commodity inexpensively. However, in the neighbouring Berry, which was hit heavily by the tax, the price of salt was excessive. Naturally, this meant that a black market was established in the border area in order to make a profit from the situation. The smugglers, who were known as faux-sauniers, illegally procured salt to resell it, ensuring a healthy margin. For example, 63 faux-sauniers were arrested in Évaux by the gabelous in 1766 and taken to court.

Incidentally, Évaux’s prison stood in the street where we are right now, Impasse de la caserne.

Under the Ancien Régime, the gabelous were customs officers responsible for tracking and arresting those who smuggled salt. In fact, the tax on salt, which was known as the gabelle, was very expensive in some provinces of the kingdom and much less so in others. The County of La Marche, where Évaux is found, was redeemed, meaning that it no longer paid the gabelle, instead obtaining this essential commodity inexpensively. However, in the neighbouring Berry, which was hit heavily by the tax, the price of salt was excessive. Naturally, this meant that a black market was established in the border area in order to make a profit from the situation. The smugglers, who were known as faux-sauniers, illegally procured salt to resell it, ensuring a healthy margin. For example, 63 faux-sauniers were arrested in Évaux by the gabelous in 1766 and taken to court.

Incidentally, Évaux’s prison stood in the street where we are right now, Impasse de la caserne.

Under the Ancien Régime, the gabelous were customs officers responsible for tracking and arresting those who smuggled salt. In fact, the tax on salt, which was known as the gabelle, was very expensive in some provinces of the kingdom and much less so in others. The County of La Marche, where Évaux is found, was redeemed, meaning that it no longer paid the gabelle, instead obtaining this essential commodity inexpensively. However, in the neighbouring Berry, which was hit heavily by the tax, the price of salt was excessive. Naturally, this meant that a black market was established in the border area in order to make a profit from the situation. The smugglers, who were known as faux-sauniers, illegally procured salt to resell it, ensuring a healthy margin. For example, 63 faux-sauniers were arrested in Évaux by the gabelous in 1766 and taken to court.

Incidentally, Évaux’s prison stood in the street where we are right now, Impasse de la caserne.

The young of fallow deer are called fawns, as are its deer cousins the roe deer (smaller) and the red deer (larger). The fallow deer is different from its cousins in size but also in its coat with its dotted white spots. Today, there are barely any fallow deer living in the wild in the world. They can only be seen in parks like this, where they can still roam free and behave like wild animals.

The park here in Evaux is 3 hectares and is home to about twenty fallow deer that continue to reproduce. Female fallow deer (does) can have up to one fawn per year. Animals are taken to new homes each year to avoid overpopulation of the park.

Originally, the first 6 fallow deer in this park were given to the local area by the owner of a wildlife park in Vichy, who simply asked that they were captured and collected from their site. It was 3 local councillors from Evaux and a young rugby-playing policeman on holiday who took on this challenging mission, which was a rather sporting endeavour to say the least! Without any way of sedating the animals, the only method was to capture them with bare hands, using the strength of their arms and legs. Bear in mind that a frightened deer can run up to 60 km/h!

The young of fallow deer are called fawns, as are its deer cousins the roe deer (smaller) and the red deer (larger). The fallow deer is different from its cousins in size but also in its coat with its dotted white spots. Today, there are barely any fallow deer living in the wild in the world. They can only be seen in parks like this, where they can still roam free and behave like wild animals.

The park here in Evaux is 3 hectares and is home to about twenty fallow deer that continue to reproduce. Female fallow deer (does) can have up to one fawn per year. Animals are taken to new homes each year to avoid overpopulation of the park.

Originally, the first 6 fallow deer in this park were given to the local area by the owner of a wildlife park in Vichy, who simply asked that they were captured and collected from their site. It was 3 local councillors from Evaux and a young rugby-playing policeman on holiday who took on this challenging mission, which was a rather sporting endeavour to say the least! Without any way of sedating the animals, the only method was to capture them with bare hands, using the strength of their arms and legs. Bear in mind that a frightened deer can run up to 60 km/h!

The young of fallow deer are called fawns, as are its deer cousins the roe deer (smaller) and the red deer (larger). The fallow deer is different from its cousins in size but also in its coat with its dotted white spots. Today, there are barely any fallow deer living in the wild in the world. They can only be seen in parks like this, where they can still roam free and behave like wild animals.

The park here in Evaux is 3 hectares and is home to about twenty fallow deer that continue to reproduce. Female fallow deer (does) can have up to one fawn per year. Animals are taken to new homes each year to avoid overpopulation of the park.

Originally, the first 6 fallow deer in this park were given to the local area by the owner of a wildlife park in Vichy, who simply asked that they were captured and collected from their site. It was 3 local councillors from Evaux and a young rugby-playing policeman on holiday who took on this challenging mission, which was a rather sporting endeavour to say the least! Without any way of sedating the animals, the only method was to capture them with bare hands, using the strength of their arms and legs. Bear in mind that a frightened deer can run up to 60 km/h!