The Somme, Volume 2. The Second Battle of the Somme (1918): (Amiens, Montdidier, Compiègne)
History
The Somme, Volume 2. The Second Battle of the Somme (1918): (Amiens, Montdidier, Compiègne)
Somme, 2nd Battle of the, France, 1918; World War, 1914-1918 -- Battlefields -- Guidebooks
(_At the end of Rue de Roye, which comes out into Place de
l'Hôtel-de-Ville. See p. 98_).]
At the bottom of the left aisle, a reclining statue was said to depict
Count Raoul de Crépy, and to have formed part of the tomb which the
Count had built in the 11th century, while still alive. This statue
escaped destruction during the Revolution, and was deposited in the
church in 1862. As a matter of fact, it probably dates from the 13th or
14th century, and does not represent Raoul de Crépy.
In the adjoining chapel is a _Burial Scene_ comprising seven figures
grouped around that of Christ. As in the Tomb of St. Germain-les-Fossés
at Amiens, Mary Magdalene occupies the centre of the group, whereas
this place is usually reserved for the Virgin.
The font (probably 11th. century) is the oldest known specimen of the
type used in Picardy between the 11th and 16th centuries. The low,
square basin rests on five supports, the principal one being in the
centre, the other four lesser columns at the corners. The columns,
originally in stone, were replaced in the course of time by wooden
ones. A belt ornamented with eight heads of rather primitive design
runs round the basin. The rest of the decoration, much defaced,
includes two entwined heads, grapes, and doves drinking out of a vase.
The tomb, said to be that of Raoul de Crépy, the "Burial Scene" and the
font are believed to lie buried under the débris.
The organ loft, composed of the remains of fine Renaissance wood
carving of uncertain origin, was destroyed.
_Keep along Rue St. Pierre to Place de la Croix-Bleue, in which stood_
the STATUE OF PARMENTIER (by Malknecht), erected in 1848. Only the
pedestal remains. Parmentier, who introduced and popularized potato
growing in France, was a native of Montdidier.
[Illustration: THE STATUE OF PARMENTIER (1914).]
[Illustration: THE STATUE OF PARMENTIER AND A CORNER OF THE TOWN, IN
1919 _looking towards St. Peter's Church, seen behind. Tourists follow the
road on the left_.]
_Rue de la Croix-Bleue leads to Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville. On the
right stands_ the modern =Hôtel-de-Ville= which replaced the old Louis
XIII building and a Renaissance house on its right. The automaton
bell-striker of the old tower, known as JEAN DUQUESNE, which used to
strike the hours with a hammer, was erected on the top of the new
belfry.
[Illustration: MONTDIDIER.--THE HOTEL-DE-VILLE.]
_Rue Parmentier is next reached, at the entrance to which is_ the 16th
century =Church of the Holy Sepulchre=.
[Illustration: MONTDIDIER.--RUE PARMENTIER AND THE CHURCH OF ST.
SEPULCHRE (1914).]
Its modern flamboyant Gothic doorway replaced the old portal which,
jutting out in front of the church, was ornamented with a hanging
garden. On this side, the square tower of the belfry only is ancient.
The five-sided chevet overlooks the small court of the presbytery.
The interior comprises a central and two side naves. Only the vaulting
of the choir remains.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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