L'eglise d'Epeigné-les-Bois – at the apex

 

Today the workers – real craftsmen – on the church at Epeigné-les-Bois reached the apex of the roof with their tiling.The church is looking increasingly magnificent.

L'eglise @Epeigné-les-Bois – more photos of the restoration work

Series of photos on the progress in renovating the church @Epeigné-les-Bois. The workers from Hory Chauvelin in Avoine appear to be real craftsmen.  

September 25th 2017

Work on the rounded roof at the eastern of the church. Fitting the timbers like a bow of a ship.  

26th September 2017

27th September 2017

 Also working on the lower north side roof

(above and below)

 Pliable slats moving higher

29th September 2017

 Further progress on covering the roof

 Right at the apex

 Work continues on the small roof

Eglise à Epeigné – réparations impressionants ! + a contrast....

The church at Epeigné-les-Bois has been undergoing extensive repairs for at least a year now. Using specialist workers the results are certainly impressive. The pity, of course, is that the church is rarely used. 

Detailed work on the tower  

Scaffolding and machinery 

 Working on the curved eastern end of the church 

– seems similar to the brow of a boat 

(above and below)

 Work advances 

Somewhat of a contrast......
Earlier this year the commune of Epeigné-les-Bois biult a wall to support the land behind the Salle des Fêtes. Unfortunately the mason's work on this wall was far below that of the quality being shown in the restoration of the church. 

 Immaculate work on church contrasting with commune's wall

The two walls do not appear to be joined together....

  

Epeigné-les-Bois: more eating and drinking + vintage transport + church repairs + team of pigeons

 Lunch tent erected by Epeigné's Plan d'Eau

 
Following on from the Répas des Ainés yesterday, today saw the Pique-nique of the Association des Amis des patrimoines d'Epeigné-les-Bois, who were blessed with a lovely early autumn day. 

  

 Apéro in brilliant sunshine

 Hard at work enjoying the apéro

••

Epeigné's Lac is not just a good place for a picnic but also from time to time can be a witness to an exchange between vintage transport enthusiasts!Here Dominique Hisbergue on the Royal Enfield chats to Oliver – the owner of a 1966 Chevrolet Impala. 

••• 

Repairs to Epeigné-les-Bois' church, which the village's central feature, continue with Stage 2 now underway. 

  

Fairly early morning light picking out the repair work on the upper part of the church.  

 •••

Bearing in mind the number of strikes (grèves) in France, Epeigné-les-Bois has invested in a flock of highly trained pigeons, who will be able to take over should La Poste go on strike and so continue to provide an exemplary service.  

  

Epeigné-les-Bois: for whom the bell tolls ....

 The bell ready to be hoisted up 

 

 Epeigné's Maire Christian Percevault manoeuvres

the bell into place so that it can be raised 

up to the roof of the church 

 Almost up...

Today an important part of Epeigné's patrimoine returned to the village. The church bell, that had been sent to Germany to be repaired and renovated, returned and was hoisted up to the top of the church, so that it can be reinstalled. Although the bell only dates from the 19th century, its striking – twice on the hour – is a feature of the village.   

 Some of the inscriptions and markings on the bell

 

Ancient (left) and modern (right) batons 

– for striking the bell
(above and below)

 

 The bell starts its journey upwards

 On its way .....

 Upwards....

 Nearing the top 

 Now up at roof level and time to manoeuvre

 the bell ready to install

Work on the first section of the roof is now nearly complete