Toulouse: safeguarding the Pouvourville observatory
The residence built in the second empire which was to be destroyed as part of a senior residence project in Pouvourville housed an astronomical observatory in its park, according to a local historian. The town hall wishes to preserve part of the park but not the mansion or the observatory.
The scheduled demolition of a mansion whose construction dates back to the Second Empire, in Pourvourville, chemin des Clotasses, continues to feed the local chronicle. This destruction of a heritage asset in the former Toulouse village is scheduled as part of a real estate project for a senior residence of 121 housing units.
The old farm, including the mansion and its outbuildings and the small wood, would be razed, 18 trees having to be felled, to make way for the residence and its underground car park with 150 spaces.
An observatory created by the village institute
A local historian, Pierre Gayraud, author of a “Little story of Pouvourville”explains: “This domain belonged to an old famous family of this district rich in bourgeois houses, the Sardaing family. A street in Pouvourville bears the name of Jean Sardaing, an officer who died in combat in 14-18. The beautiful house was built around 1850-1860, at the end of the Second Empire”, estimates the historian, “one can distinguish behind the house a small circle in the park which is the remains of an astronomical observatory whose dome was blown by the wind a little longer. There are also three wells, two of which are built in brick, remarkable, which deserve to be restored. The observatory was built by D.Sardaing, who was a teacher at the Pouvourville school for 30 years at the beginning of the 20th century. and
century and a great lover of science and astronomy. It would be a shame to see such a piece of local history leave,” concluded Pierre Gayraud.
Around the mansion and its outbuildings, three wells and an astronomical observatory.
A second building permit Souhayla Marty, deputy mayor in charge of urban quality, specifies that the project has evolved at the request of the town hall to “preserve the plant belt of the plot and a lime tree”. But not the house or its observatory.” The choice of materials (for the residence, editor’s note) has also been modified, thus ensuring a high quality of the project, in accordance with the requirements of the buildings of France”, assures the elected Toulouse.
“Little story of Pouvourville” (out of print). “Pouvourville on foot”, topoguide illustrated with pretty watercolours, on sale at Carrefour City in Pouvourville.