Saint-Omer, ville d'art et d'histoire...
Les Monuments - Aéroclub de Saint-Omer - L'USSO
		The Foch Place and the street of the Nail factories This also called rectangular place Grand Place was, before 1834, of more significant size. The old Town hall was located at the alignment of the street of the Nail factories. In 1270, on the ground full, vis-a-vis at the current General Company, was built a Vault dedicated to Our Lady of the Miracles. It was the place of many pélerinages and was destroyed in 1785. A plate, to its site, recalls the memory of it. In XVe and XVIe centuries, on this place, were held memorable " tournaments " and tournaments of knighthood. With the n°7, was the old one " Seals ". The building was used for the origin with the court of small the offences. It contained also the cellars of the city and took in XIIIe century the name of Caretaker's lodge. Become decayed, the current building was rebuilt into 1670. A significant balcony was added there in 1880. Further, we find the house of the changer whose low relief indicates the destination. Around a table, three characters in costume Louis XIV, are brought together. One two holds a balance in which it weighs the currency. This place, by the variety of its architecture and its different roofs of style, constitutes a picturesque unit which makes the charm of it. To notice in particular the houses located on the side of the park whose the compartmental narrow one reveals a medieval origin. With the angle of the street of the 8è of line, beside old Bailliage, a cartouche on the pinion represents a white swan. At the n°50 was located the Private mansion of the family Sainte Aldegonde connected by an arcade to the old Town hall.
Street of the Nail factories As of the Average Age, this passage existed connecting the Old Market (Place Victor Hugo) to the Large Market (Foch Place). In the cities of North, it was current to have two places where were held gone and significant fairs. Very commercial street right from the start, it took the street name of Cleuteries. One can suppose that, in this artery, met the manufacturers of nails. Thereafter it took the street name of the Nail factories. A lane directly joined the back of the house of Scelle, Foch place. In 1903, was built with the n°14, a house out of red bricks with cartridges and cusps, resurgence of the Flemish art which had existed in this city and of which there remain some vestiges.