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The Délorier House in Blainville-Crevon
Originating from Franche-Comté, Captain Délorier is a veteran of the Napoleonic wars. Enlisted in 1805, he participated in many campaigns including that of Russia. He is therefore one of its few survivors. He lost an arm in a fight in Namur, the day after the Battle of Waterloo, and became known as the "Invalid". He composed songs, short stories and a historical novel. The "Chansons d'un Invalide" gave him some notoriety.
In 1826, he bought a piece of land in Blainville-Crevon, close to the Collégiale Saint-Michel, foundation of the powerful Lord Jean III d'Estouteville (1488). It was there that he had a house built, the foundation stone of which bears the date of 1827. This house was therefore built rapidly. It was certainly habitable from 1828, since the book of the Municipal Council's deliberations shows that Captain Délorier officially established his residence in Blainville on July 27, 1828.
The new house is a building measuring 10 by 12 meters, with two floors and an attic, but without basement. The interior structure is made of wood, while the exterior walls are of mortar, pebbles, and bricks. The main curiosity is a magnificent "spiral" staircase inspired by a house in Beure (Doubs, Franche-Comté) that the Captain must have known in his youth.
Captain Délorier, by Bernard Biget, 1826.
Restoration by Atelier Jaillette, 2019.
Mrs Délorier, by Bernard Biget, 1826.
Restoration by Atelier Jaillette, 2019.
Bénigne-Claude Délorier was a Freemason, and he reached the rank of Venerable. This explains the presence of the three dots on the foundation stone, to the right of the "D", initial of his name. There is also inside the house a "trumeau" (ie. a painting over a chimney), of Masonic inspiration, entitled "Les Trois Ordres" (The Three Orders), and representing the planting of a Freedom tree.
It was in this house that he died in 1852. He is buried in the Blainville-Crevon cemetery, where his grave is still visible, his widow having purchased an indefinite concession.
Accueil: Bienvenue
''Spiral'' staircase.
Foundation stone; note the three dots, right of the initial of Captain Délorier.
The two laurel branches form a rebus for ''deux lauriers''.
Les Trois Ordres, ''trumeau'' of Masonic inspiration (around 1792).
Restoration by Atelier Jaillette, 2020.
The house changes owners several times before arriving in the hands of Baron Ambroise Justin d'Acher de Montgascon, a diplomat. The new owners used it mainly during summers, then from 1885 rented it to Eugène Duchamp, who had just been appointed "notaire" (notary) in Blainville. The latter moved in with his wife, Lucie Nicolle, and their three children, Gaston, Raymond and Madeleine. Then came Marcel, Suzanne, Yvonne and Magdeleine, all four born in the family home.
Four of the Duchamp children will become artists of international fame, the two eldest, Gaston and Raymond, using the pseudonyms of Jacques Villon and Raymond Duchamp-Villon, Marcel and Suzanne keeping their personal names. This fame has made Délorier House one of the many cultural places that our country is proud of.
The Duchamp family must have enjoyed living in Blainville, and the children often returned there in pilgrimage until the 1960s.
The Duchamp family in Blainville, around 1899 (Archives Marcel Duchamp © A.M.D., Paris, 2021).
Eugène Duchamp is seated in the grass, with his three daughters (from left to right: Yvonne, Magdeleine and Suzanne); behind him, Clémence Lebourg, governess. Lucie Nicolle is in the center, and Marcel, between his mother and Clémence. Behind Marcel, Mrs Lhuillier, godmother of Suzanne. In Lucie's shadow, Mrs Tubert, and standing left, probably Augustine Viel. Behind Mrs Tubert, an unidentified woman.
Eugène Duchamp took an active part in local life, and was very appreciated by his fellow citizens who elected him as Mayor from 1895 to 1905. It is at this time that an extension of the kitchen, towards the north, was fitted out. In 1905, Eugène Duchamp retired, and the family moved to Rouen.
A few years later, in 1912, the Délorier House was rented to Robert Le Bertre, who moved there with his family. First tenant, he bought the house in 1924, and undertook major restoration works, made necessary by the passage of time. The roof was refurbished in 1926, and an extension of the ground floor, towards the valley, was built in 1931.
However, due to the slope of the land, this extension rests now on a basement. The Délorier House then had reached its final state, the following owners having limited themselves to safeguarding the existing building and to preserving, not without difficulty, the site.
For more informations on Délorier House, one may refer to the booklet :
The Délorier House in Blainville-Crevon
in open access on the website of the Association La Sirène (check for the British flag !).
Acknowledgements: Association Marcel Duchamp, A. M. D., for communicating documents from their archive.
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