News | Centre Culturel Gilbert de Venables https://www.ccgvenables.org Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:29:35 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://www.ccgvenables.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cropped-Logo-CCGV-square-32x32.png News | Centre Culturel Gilbert de Venables https://www.ccgvenables.org 32 32 The Millennium 2027 https://www.ccgvenables.org/en/le-millenaire-2027-2/ Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:39:46 +0000 https://www.ccgvenables.org/?p=1815

This project is part of the framework of the European Year of the Normans 2027. On this occasion, the Normandy Region launched a call for multidisciplinary and transnational projects, enabling everyone to propose initiatives with the aim of obtaining official certification. The project presented here seeks to highlight the rich historical past of the Commune Nouvelle des Trois Lacs by showcasing a major historical entity:

  • The Lordship of Venables, where Gilbert de Venables lived.

This emblematic figure of the village of Venables left a lasting mark on the history of Normandy and extended his influence far beyond its borders, particularly in England.

Project: To promote the history of the motte-and-bailey castle of Venables and one of its emblematic lords: Gilbert de Venables. Located at the extreme northern edge of the Pagus Madriacensis (present-day Madrie plateau), the Lordship of Venables was, from the earliest stages of Normandy’s formation, the scene of rivalries between the Frankish counts and the Norman counts. These conflicts formed part of a broader context: the emergence of feudalism during the early construction of Normandy.

After his time on the fief of Venables, in 1066, Gilbert de Venables followed Duke William of Normandy during the conquest of England. In accordance with the Duke’s promises, Gilbert was established in Cheshire, near Middlewich. He became the founder of the great Venables lineage, whose influence has since extended far beyond Normandy and today reaches across the world.

Objective: This project is based on a 3D virtual reconstruction of the motte-and-bailey castle of Venables in the 11th century, accompanied by an interactive digital heritage trail via the LEGENDR application. It thus contributes to enhancing the historical and tourist value of the site and bringing it to wider public attention.

]]> Visit by Susan Venables https://www.ccgvenables.org/en/visit-by-susan-venables/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:15:31 +0000 https://www.ccgvenables.org/?p=910

Susan, originally from England, and her husband Arthur Sager live in Pleasantville, Nova Scotia, Canada. While travelling with her family in England, Susan insisted on making a detour to France to visit the village that bears her name, the village of her ancestors.

After a reception with refreshments with friends from Venables, Patrick Lequette and Francis Meyer, members of the CCGVenables, gave Susan and Arthur a tour of the heritage sites, commenting on the history of the village and that of Gilbert, Lord of Venables, who accompanied William the Conqueror on his English adventure. The visit to the church stirred up strong emotions in Susan.

After signing the CCGVenables guest book and receiving welcome gifts, we parted ways with Susan and Arthur promising to return in 2027 for the festivities that will be organised to mark the millennium of the birth of Duke William of Normandy.
]]> Visit by Geoff Page https://www.ccgvenables.org/en/visit-by-geoff-page/ Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:15:57 +0000 https://www.ccgvenables.org/?p=902

On 12 June 2024, Patrick Lequette and Francis Meyer from the Gilbert de Venables Cultural Centre received an impromptu visit from Mr and Mrs Geoff Page. They live in Middlewich, Cheshire, with which the village of Venables has cultural ties. Geoff is President of the Royal British Legion Association.

As part of their duty to remember, Geoff and his wife have been visiting the cemeteries where soldiers from Middlewich are buried for the past two months. We learned that 150 soldiers from the town of Middlewich now lie in military cemeteries across Europe.

Together, we visited the village’s heritage sites and discussed the relationship with Middlewich. We discussed the duty of remembrance that we uphold every year in our respective countries, particularly for the five British soldiers who lie in the military section of the village cemetery. To mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Middlewich Association organised an exhibition to honour the service and sacrifice of the D-Day generation at the British Memorial in Normandy.

[1] https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/ 

]]> Visit by Alan Venable https://www.ccgvenables.org/en/visit-by-alan-venable/ Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:20:26 +0000 https://www.ccgvenables.org/?p=896

The members of the CCGVenables Welcome Committee welcomed Mr Alan Venable, accompanied by his friends Ryan, Matt and Billy.

Alan is visiting from the United States and lives in St Petersburg, Florida. Alan is taking advantage of his stay in France to visit the village of his ancestors. They were welcomed by Joris Benier, Mayor of Les Trois Lacs, and Patrick Lequette, President of CCGVenables.

After showing them around some of the village’s heritage sites, Alan Venable signed the Association’s guest book. We wish Alan Venable a pleasant stay in France and hope he will join us as often as possible to share and perpetuate the common history of the Venables families and the village.

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