Hem-Hardinval: Church Art, Mill and Remembrance

Hem-Hardinval brings together architectural history, religious art and remembrance in a village setting of streets, lanes and historic buildings. Notable features include the Neo-Gothic church in the centre, the old grain mill and a memorial stele. The village also has links to the river and a green, flower-filled streetscape. The commune’s cultural heritage can thus be explored through a range of different facets, not just a single building.

Church: architectural history and features

At the centre of Hem-Hardinval stands the Église de la Nativité-de-la-Sainte-Vierge, a 19th-century Neo-Gothic church. It replaced an older building. “Neo-Gothic” refers to a later revival of Gothic architectural forms; the construction date and style therefore offer two different clues about the building. The date places the church in the 19th century, while the style draws on an earlier architectural tradition. The predecessor building adds an earlier local church to this history.

Inside, the church has original stained-glass windows depicting the Stations of the Cross, and a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary in the choir. Two forms of religious imagery are thus found side by side: a sequence of scenes in the windows and a single figure in the choir. Visitors interested in church art can look for the difference between stained glass and a gilded sculpture.

The church is open to the public on the first Friday of each month during a prayer vigil, as well as during services throughout the year. As opening arrangements may change, check visiting times before you travel.

Remembrance and the history of the mill

The memorial stele to Norman R. Gellerman was erected in 1996 and commemorates the crash on the night of 2 March 1944. Commemorative ceremonies continue to be held. The stele thus links remembrance of a precisely dated historical event with a tradition of commemoration that continues to this day.

Another architectural feature is Hem-Hardinval’s old grain mill. It was built in the 17th century and still has its waterwheel. As a remnant of the past, it belongs to the mills that were historically concentrated along the Authie. These three aspects complement one another: the construction date places the building in a particular period, the surviving wheel identifies a specific feature, and the Authie connects it to the historic milling landscape.

Streets and rural village setting

The commune’s lanes offer a chance to explore its cultural heritage on foot. Rue de Ricquemesnil has a direct connection to the river: it runs along the Authie to the neighbouring village of Occoches. Rue des Près is green and flower-filled. The two streets therefore offer contrasting features: Rue de Ricquemesnil is associated with the river and the link to neighbouring Occoches, while Rue des Près is known for its flowers and greenery.

In the hamlet of Hardinval, visitors can still discover an imposing manor farm, its entrance marked by a dovecote. This makes the farm a distinctive example of rural architectural history alongside sacred architecture and mill construction.

Discover more destinations: Tours-En-Vimeu, Beauchamps, Fransu, Boussicourt, Saint-Valery-Sur-Somme, Mers-Les-Bains, Buigny-Saint-Maclou, Doullens

View the wider travel guide: Somme.