In the 19th century, this house was a silkworm farm, where silkworms, known as mulberry bombyx, were reared.
We assume it was built in stages in the early 1800s (stages visible on the house facades), extended and raised. As a reference of the period, we have a neighboring house (in ruins at the entrance to the hamlet) which dates back to 1792, as indicated by the engraving on its pediment. We also have an extract from the first Napoleonic cadastre of 1833 showing the hamlet at that time (see attached map – select to enlarge photos). The house was already there, with its outdoor well.
On the first floor, the silkworm farm consisted of a room where pigs and hens were raised (today’s storeroom).
On the other side of the central corridor were the stable and cowshed (not visible at the moment, as they are being renovated), where you can still see the wood that marked out the feed trough for the animals. Hay was stored on the2nd floor and fed down a chimney directly into the manger. Horses served as a means of locomotion and worked in the fields. They were also used to thresh wheat, which was spread out on the ground where the pool is today.
Outside, near the lime tree, you’ll also see the well that was once the hamlet’s only source of drinking water. This well is connected to another well (not accessible) in the cellar on the road side. They are fed by a spring.
This cellar was also used to mature wine. Huge barrels were anchored in the vaulted ceilings. Unfortunately, all that remains are the anchor holes.
On the1st floor, the current dining room was where silkworms were raised. This room had 4 fireplaces, of which only one remains today, and traces (smoke-blackened stones) of a second one near the door to the entrance hall.
There is still a mulberry tree in front of the garage. All it does now is shade the cars. The fruit is dark purple and not very tasty (very colorful, so watch out for fingers… and car bodies!), but can be made into jam.
The current living room was, at the time, the kitchen with its large fireplace. The sink was in place of the bookcase.
The current room was the dining room and bathroom, the bedroom…
The2nd floor was used to store hay and dry mulberry leaves to feed silkworms. The large room had no windows, just openings with wooden shutters.
The terrace, also known as the “couradou” in Ardèche, was used for the operation of unwinding the cocoons to extract the silk thread. The cocoons were plunged into a bath of boiling water, softened and then shaken with a small broom to release the threads, which were then wound onto a skein.
If you look carefully on the terrace, you’ll discover a head carved in stone. In those days, the stones and ornaments of castles were salvaged to build houses…
For several years now, we’ve been trying to renovate the house while preserving its authenticity and Ardèche character. Thank you for taking such good care of it…
Enjoy your stay at Mas Gauthier…
Didier and Bruna.
