Le Desert 14

50 fires in 1789 ( 250 inhabitants) - 9 voters - representatives: Jean - Baptist Duchesne, graduate are laws, Pierre Lemoine

387 Ha - 70 Inhabitants - 18 in Km2 ( 1990 ) - 87 in 1999

Situation 1865

Surface: 387 ha 87 has 66 ca
Population: 215 inhabitants
Taxes: 2.168 Frcs
Mayor: Maupas
Priest: Cochard
Schoolteacher: Garel

SITUATION 2001

Voters: 61
Mayor: Lehugeur
Councillors: Chauvel, Sallot, Lerondeau, Toullier, Rohée, Lechartier, Maupas, Tréol.
Secretary: Deshayes
City hall: me 17 / 18h30 - Phone . 02 31 67 54 80

The municipality of LE DESERT, sprayed by Grincelle, was called LE MESNIL BREHIER in 1066, and belonged for its biggest part to Robert de PRESLES quoted among the companions of Guillaume the Conqueror, and whose properties extended over PRESLES, partially over BURCY and MONTCHAMP. Robert de Presles, after the conquest of England, and to relieve his consciousness of the crimes and the brutalities which he had committed, should base Prieuré of Our Lady of Le Desert by 1101.

This prieuré wore in this time the name of Holy Marie de la Celle, and tracks remain in the most former parts of the church. It was previous about 15 years to the Prieuré du Plessis-Grimoult, and of century in Cerisy Belle Etoile's abbey. Tithes were perceived by Troarn's abbey.

In 1255, Ste Marie de la Celle became Our Lady of the Desert. The visits of the archbishop of Rouen gave place to some observations: in 1250, two monks on the six were lacking that the abbey should count, in 1256 they confessed little, in 1267 they welcomed womens at their table. Finally the text of the rule was lacking.

By 1360, Jean de Corious was the prior, however he preferred Vire to the wet grounds of the Desert.
In 1449, dom Philippe Lepaumier saying to himself baron of the Desert and Chaulieu was an active man who prevented the ruin of the prieuré and its churches. His successor in 1457 was Pierre Levesque who was a monk of Troarn.
In 1498, Guillaume de Silly was the prior commendataire. The prieuré possessed the dimes of the churches of Vire, La Rocque, Beaulieu, Reculey, Carville, Presles, Bény, Burcy and rights on the halls of Vire, Tallevende and Chaulieu. His nephew Jacques abbot commendataire of Cerisy Belle Etoile succeeded him, then the nephew of this one, Pierre de Silly. Having more important responsibilities of Silly does in suffering The Desert.
In 1557, dom de Brunfay become a prior put back of the order and made observe the rule. After his nephew François, Symon Lefauconnier who possessed the fief of Halley to Montchamp, then François Longuet aumonier of king, Simon Quiceuillette ( 1696 ), in 1697 , it was up to the order of the Benedictines, the prior was the Mr. de Goulette whose income was 4.000 livres. There was no more any monk, then Gilles Piedelièvre, Pierre des Moges. These last ones contented with leasing the income of their prieuré without living there.
Of 1714 in 1776 dom Louis Le Commandeur and his successor dom Claude Louis Lamy made the necessary repairs, restoring churches and endowing them with books and with necessary ornaments.
The last prior was Pierre Yvon who estimated his income at 3.000 livres, on January 11, 1791, seized the farm and the prieuré were sold by the state 56.000 and 37.000 Frcs to Georges Huillard d' Aigneaux, living in Vire, the family of which possessed Aigneaux's castle. In 1856, there were only some ruins of the prieuré. Nothing remains in our time.
In 1700 the priest Pierre Rouyer got only 300 livres for his 250 parishioners, he was appointed by the prior.
In 1450 The Desert belonged to the sergenterie of Le Tourneur, Vassy's high justice and owed 8 days of watch to the castle of Vire.

05/2002