Moats Washhouse
Moats Washhouse is a small washhouse built inside the former château’s moats, accessed by a stone staircase. Originally open-air, it later received a simple wooden-post roof.
Moats Washhouse is a distinctive washhouse positioned in the moats below the old château of Sennecey-le-Grand. Reached by a descending staircase, it was originally an open-air washing area before being upgraded with a lightweight gallery roof supported by wooden posts. Its stone-slab floor and simple construction reflect its functional purpose, serving the community by making use of the moat’s water system. Though modest in scale, this lavoir forms an important part of the town’s small built heritage, illustrating how defensive structures were adapted for everyday life.
All About the Washhouse
Original type of the washhouse
open-air and sited inside the château’s moat area.
How to access
through a side entrance door and then by a staircase down into the moat.
Structure and materials
wooden posts forming a two-slope gallery roof.
Floor
from stone slabs
Water for wash area
relied on moat/spring water and possibly overflow drainage water.
Gallery of the Washhouse
Location of the Washhouse
Old Mill Washhouse
The Old Mill Washhouse, built in 1821 in the hamlet of Viel Moulin, is an open stone-and-wood lavoir with a central rectangular basin and a four-sided tiled roof. Once a communal laundry point, it reflects the village’s historic water-based life and remains a protected heritage structure.
La Farge 2 Pump
La Farge 2 Pump is an old, cast-iron hand water pump set against a stone wall in a rural setting, likely from the late 19th or early 20th century. It has a long lever handle and a spherical finial on top.
Ruffey Washhouse
Ruffey Washhouse is a small rural wash-house set below the road near the old Château de Ruffey. With its square plan, stone basin, and adjoining fountain, it once served as a gathering place where villagers came to wash laundry and share daily news.