Centre Culturel Gilbert de Venables

The Millennium 2027

Patrick Lequette — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:39:46 +0000

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

Raphaelle Lecot — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:15:31 +0000

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

Raphaelle Lecot — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:15:57 +0000

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

Raphaelle Lecot — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:20:26 +0000

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.

Venables Family Convention – 2023

Raphaelle Lecot — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 10:46:02 +0000

Thursday 27th July :

D Day : From early morning, Gilbert’s spirit is present and the village is ready to welcome the families: the flags of the expected Venables countries fly on the façade of the Cultural Centre, the mast of the feudal mound proudly displays the coat of arms and Norman lions, and the dragon and signposts are in place.

The 42 members of the CCGV and their friends, who have been preparing for these exceptional days for seven months, check the arrangements for the various venues and activities and finalise the decorations and lighting.

3 p.m.: The first Venables families arrive at reception. The teams dedicated to this mission welcome, embrace, comfort and share all the emotion of a first trip or reunion. To immortalise this unique moment, a photo of each family is taken: it will be the subject of a lovely surprise at the end of the Convention. A tea room is open, offering drinks and cakes, allowing for initial chats and unexpected encounters with new members of the large Venables family. The blue sky and sunshine were unable to join in the official welcome ceremony, and it was amid a guard of honour and applause from the Venables that the families were welcomed into the school buildings, which had been decorated for the occasion in Gilbert’s colours.

Patrick Lequette, President of the CCGV, welcomed the families to the land of their famous ancestor and declared the 8th Venables Family Convention open.

Jean-Marie Drouet, Honorary Mayor, gave a moving speech on the history of the Conventions, and Joris Benier, Mayor of Les Trois Lacs, affirmed on behalf of himself and the elected officials present the new municipality’s commitment to the cultural character and continuity of the event. A gourmet cocktail party, homemade by the organisers, allowed everyone to raise a glass to the success of this wonderful initiative, which has been running for almost half a century!

To round off the first day, a large buffet was served in the village’s large communal hall, where everyone enjoyed a festive and convivial atmosphere in the company of the patrons whose generosity had made the celebration even more wonderful. Everyone went home with their heads full of dreams and laughter, ready for a good night’s sleep under the sky of their ancestors.

Friday, 28th July :

Friday 28 July A benevolent spirit blew over the village and the umbrellas were put away. The morning was free for leisure activities, but there was a fabulous heritage walk through the three villages of ‘Les Trois Lacs’. Many families chose to take this tour, which could be done in military vehicles provided by the ANMM (Association Normande de Mémoire Militaire). The tour was enriched by information panels, texts and photos, supplemented by details provided by our favourite local guide. Each stop featured charming stories from a bygone era in the villages of ‘Les Trois Lacs’.

The morning was marked by some wonderful donations to the CCGV: Brian Venables donated his father’s research. His father had been conducting genealogical research for four decades. This is a wonderful gift, and the CCGV is committed to doing everything possible to classify and promote this incredible work and share it with the Venables families. The second donation was from Mrs Christiane Lallemand: two letters and a photo that Dorothy Mary Faith Venables wrote to the Lambert family after her visit to the village in August 1901. The CCGV will conduct research to find out more. The CCGV is very grateful and warmly thanks these two people.

At 2 p.m.: Various workshops were open to the Venables families and the residents of Venables, and everyone could participate according to their preferences.

How to make and bake bread in an old-fashioned oven. A look back at the process of making bread and baking it in a wood-fired traditional oven.
Expressing oneself through writing, poetry, painting, and drawing on the name Venables, a fun and recreational session for young and old alike. Some beautiful creations were produced.
Escape Game ‘In Search of the Yew Tree’. A first for Venables. An outdoor historical trail through the village of Venables, with numerous clues relating to Gilbert’s chivalrous era and an unlikely ending.
Visit to the ‘Once Upon a Time in Venables’ museum: commentary and discussion on artefacts from the period of the first human settlements to the present day.
Visit to an exhibition on the school and Norman costume, featuring everyday objects and traditional clothing from the last century.

All these workshops were covered by regional television crews, who also recorded emotional testimonials from the families, resulting in a report broadcast on FR3 Normandie.

At 4 pm, there was a gourmet break with afternoon tea for everyone under the marquees in front of the presbytery. Guests enjoyed slices of bread baked by the Venables families that morning with homemade jams made by members of the association. It was a real return to tradition and country-style gourmet food.
An evening themed around Normandy, with decorations and a menu reflecting the colours of our province, served in good spirits by the Cultural Centre team, followed by a concert and stage show at Notre Dame Church.
A cultural moment of harp, cello and singing with Pauline and Clément, who had some wonderful surprises in store for the audience with a repertoire known beyond our borders. After delighting the ears, light and a text awaited the families on the church square. An original historical text on the origins of the name Venables, created and recorded in English, accompanied the illumination of the church’s stones and stained glass windows.

Saturday, 29 July :

Saturday, 29 July: The free morning allowed a second group to take the fabulous heritage tour of the three villages of ‘Les Trois Lacs’. The Venables families were particularly impressed by this heritage discovery. They enriched their knowledge of how our villages have evolved since the departure of their glorious ancestor. The interest and choices made by the team members made this activity a great success.

At 2 p.m.: Various workshops were open to the Venables families and the Venablois, and everyone could participate according to their preferences.

Cooking workshop: Working in pairs to make the famous camembert tart, with the recipe and a small personal notebook provided.

Escape Game for all those who had not been able to do it the day before… Gilbert’s companion was still there to point everyone in the right direction and take some nice photos.

Sharing a dog training session at the Champ de l’Eure club. A demonstration by a dog and its owner, this activity chosen by the children delighted young and old alike and proved to be a wonderful discovery.

Museography: Once upon a time in Venables reopened its doors to share its knowledge of the events and various items in the temporary museum’s collection.
The rooms of the presbytery offered two lovely exhibitions: one on the school of yesteryear, with many examples of schooling from the past that are so similar to that of today. The second featured beautiful items of clothing for day, night, parties, babies and women, where visitors could admire the needlework of our ancestors, as well as tools and accessories from Norman households.

For the Convention, a pop-up shop opened its doors to the Venables families and the people of Venable, offering them the chance to purchase some lovely souvenirs. The members of the association and their friends created and produced accessories based on the theme of travel.

Craftsmen were also present to offer original, handcrafted creations.

A tour of the Renaissance castle of Gaillon, built by Archbishop Georges d’Amboise, was also offered and attracted several families. The tour was led by a guide from the Agglomeration Community Tourist Office. This castle is an essential part of our region’s heritage.

Saturday evening’s theme was Guinguette. A recommendation had been issued regarding the dress code for the evening, and our families competed in elegance and originality. To make this evening unforgettable and in keeping with the guinguette atmosphere, the decoration was worthy of a guinguette by the water’s edge, a delicious meal was served at the table by the Cultural Centre teams, and Dominique’s orchestra provided entertainment and kept everyone dancing until the end of the night with an introduction to the famous French dance ‘la Java’. On this occasion, and given that everyone looked magnificent, we took the traditional souvenir photo of all the participants in this 8th convention in front of the Cultural Centre. It was also an opportunity to give each of the families a gift to commemorate their stay in our village. During the evening, we shared an emotional moment when several members of the Venables families thanked the organisers, expressing their happiness at being reunited and, above all, at the warm welcome they had received, which made them feel like family, giving the organisers a standing ovation. At the end of the night, everyone went home with fabulous memories already in their heads and hearts.

Sunday, 30th July :

Brunch was laid out and the tables were set for breakfast. Everyone was happy to be together, exchanging emails and phone numbers, making plans, arranging visits, filling out the guest book, and receiving a personalised set of photos of each family taken during the welcome. Everyone was smiling, but already the shadow of departure was looming. After promises, endless hugs and eyes filled with tears, each family left to return to their homes far from the village of Gilbert, where we had been happy to welcome them. The bell rang, and one family left to applause, then another, and another, and another.

It’s the end of an adventure that makes us nostalgic. We already miss these families with whom we develop stronger and stronger bonds at each convention. But we’ve shared such incredible moments that we’re eagerly awaiting the next convention.

Photos

Middlewich-Venables Cultural Relations

Raphaelle Lecot — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 08:58:05 +0000

1996 – 1997: During the Third Convention, Franck and Ailsa Venables proposed a school exchange with St Mary’s School in Amersham. The Gilbert de Venables Cultural Centre and the teaching team led by Emmanuel and Joëlle Caillé responded favourably, with the support of parents, not only for their children to go to Great Britain, but also to host two English schoolchildren. In order to finalise all the details of this exchange, Joëlle, Emmanuel Caillé and Catherine Bouvier travelled to Amersham in February 1997. Crossing the Channel on 11 April 1997, the journey from Le Havre to Portsmouth, although long, was wonderful. It was an opportunity for the children to leave their families and take a boat trip for the first time. As soon as they disembarked, the ‘Venabloise colony’ headed to Brighton to discover the Royal Pavilion with its exotic architecture and the lively seafront on this beautiful day. Finally, the time for the meeting arrived: tired but happy, the French schoolchildren were welcomed by their British counterparts, and everyone gathered for a snack before listening to Roy’s words of welcome. Then the children left to join their host families for their first taste of life in England.

1998: Preparations were made to welcome the children from Amersham. Parents, members of the Municipal Council, members of CCGVenables and teachers joined forces to prepare for the Whitsun weekend. On Saturday 17 May, all the pupils gathered in the school playground to wait for their pen pals. Finally, the crowd of schoolchildren rushed to welcome the young English visitors, who were somewhat tired after such a long journey. After putting their luggage in a safe place, they were invited to have a snack in the mobile classroom, where fruit juice and cakes prepared by the parents awaited them. Everyone then went to their host families to settle in and get some rest. Then, at 8 p.m., everyone gathered at the village hall to enjoy a meal prepared by the mothers of the ACSV team. This was an opportunity for a few words of welcome and an interesting exchange between the children and adults… The next day, gathered in the mobile hall, the pupils were treated to a history lesson prepared by Catherine and Emmanuel. In addition, the pupils received a folder containing information and games relating to the monuments visited during the day. Château-Gaillard, steeped in Anglo-Norman history. Mortemer and its abbey, steeped in legend, where a crêpe meal awaited their ravenous appetites. In the afternoon, a visit to a beautiful 17th-century castle where the children were able to admire a magnificent collection of antique dolls and toys. The l

2000-2001: Following these initial exchanges, conversations began online between Patrick Lequette, Deputy Mayor and Administrator of the Cultural Centre, and T.J. Strickland, Director for Gifford and Consultant for the Historical Heritage of Middlewich. These initial conversations focused on the shared historical past of the two communities.

29 March to 1 April 2002. Trip to England: Some Venablois residents travelled to London to meet the English Venables families. We were welcomed in Portsmouth by Robert Venables, then in London by Ailsa, Frank Venables and Fiona (our guide) for a tour of the capital. Fiona showed us the main monuments and picturesque neighbourhoods of London. We watched the changing of the guard and walked through St James’s Park, where squirrels came to eat out of our hands. The afternoon was spent visiting the Tower of London, where the past comes alive with every step and the crown jewels sparkle in all their glory. The Venables families organised an excellent evening. Speeches, songs and toasts punctuated this unforgettable evening. Sunday 31 March: we explored the streets of the university city of Oxford, guided by our British friends. Renowned colleges, old houses and sites steeped in history were a feast for our eyes. After crossing the lush green English countryside, we arrived in the spa town of Bath. This time, our guide Hélène gave us a detailed explanation of the town’s development and its world-famous architectural style (the town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). At 4 p.m., we set off for the Avon plain, where the megalithic site of Stonehenge stands. These stones, erected by human hands since the dawn of time, invite us to m

2 and 3 April 2005: Reception in Venables for Tim J. Strickland, Director for Gifford, and his wife Rosie. This visit reinforced the desire to continue promoting cultural exchanges between the two communities. Tim is a researcher who specialises in the Gallo-Roman period. The Middlewich area is rich in remains from this period. Queen Elizabeth II personally awarded Tim a high distinction for his energy and work on various archaeological research projects undertaken by his association.

Why Middlewich? This town of 7,000 inhabitants is located in northern England, near Manchester in the county of Cheshire. The link between our two communities is Gilbert de Venables, which takes us back to the 11th century and 1066, when Gilbert, who owned the fiefdom of Venables, enlisted in the army of the Duke of Normandy alongside his neighbours William and Hugh de la Mare and Raoul II de Tosny. William the Conqueror, as promised, granted lands to those who had followed him. Gilbert inherited the County of Kinderton, located near Middlewich. William de la Mare was killed at Hastings, and Hugh received an estate north of Middlewich. Raoul de Tosny received five estates in the counties of Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Norfolk. This first meeting highlighted the historical links between the two communities and the desire of both parties to join forces and work together on a project to promote and enhance our shared history.

9 and 10 July 2005: Reception in Venables for William ‘Chalky’ White, Mayor of Middlewich, and his wife Allison, as well as Jonathan Williams, Secretary General of Middlewich Town Council, and his sister Philippa. This visit confirmed the desire of elected representatives from both communities to initiate a process of cultural exchange. At the request of the Mayor of Middlewich, the afternoon was devoted to a visit to the town of Vernon. It should be noted that the current Baron of Kinderton is a descendant of Gilbert de Venables. The ancestors of the Vernon family also accompanied William the Conqueror in 1066 and settled in Cheshire.

On Sunday morning, Mr Jean-Marie Drouet, Mayor of Venables, officially welcomed his English counterpart to the Town Hall. After speeches and signing the guest book, discussions began to outline the framework for our future cultural ties in the areas of education and community associations.

17-18 Septembre 2005 : Norman Festival de Middlewich : Du 17 et 18 septembre 2005, Middlewich a organisé le « Norman festival », dans le cadre de l’héritage Normand sur le sol Anglais et en particulier dans le comté du Cheshire. Pour commémorer ces événements historiques, des familles Venables ainsi qu’une délégation de la commune de Venables furent invités à ce festival. Sept représentants Venablois s’y rendirent, sous la conduite de Patrick Lequette, promoteur des relations entre le village et les familles Venables et de Jean-Marie Drouet, Maire. Ils reçurent un accueil particulièrement chaleureux. Un week-end bien rempli par la visite détaillée du site de la ville conduite et commentée par le Mayor Williams « Chalky » White en personne. Les Festivités ont débuté en présence d’un nombreux public malgré une météo mitigée. Une parade costumée précéda l’ouverture officielle du festival par le maire de Middlewich, et en présence du descendant direct de Gilbert de Venables et Lord Vernon actuel baron de Kinderton. Durant ces deux jours des acteurs professionnels ont produit un spectacle haut en couleur de joutes médiévales, tournois, fauconnerie, reconstitution de bataille sur le thème de la guerre entre les Normands et les Saxons et un grand marché médiéval. Samedi soir, une réception chaleureuse a été tout spécialement organisée en l’honneur des Venablois et des familles Venables. Nous ne pouvons que féliciter les organisateurs et en particulier Jonathan Williams secrétaire général du Town Council de Middlewich. Pendant les 2 jours du festival, les Venablois ont tenu un stand, avec une documentation et un diaporama présentant notre village, son historique et son environnement actuel, permettant de répondre aux attentes des Venables anglais sur leur passé et leur héritage normand, des œuvres artistiques de notre patrimoine réalisées à Venables par des Venabloises ainsi que quelques échantillons de nos célèbres fromages furent tout particulièrement appréciés. Le Dimanche matin lors d’une cérémonie religieuse nous avons retrouvé avec plaisir les familles Venables qui sont de vieilles connaissances car elles ont déjà participé aux rencontres internationales des familles Venables organisées tous les 5 ans à Venables. La visite de l’église nous a permis de découvrir que bien d’autres familles Normandes se sont implantées dans le Cheshire après 1066. Des discussions ont été menées sur la future Convention des Venables qui doit se déroulera du 13 au 16 juillet 2006 et à laquelle participera Middlewich. Ces deux journées nous ont permis d’étudier en commun, la mise en place d’échanges qui pourront permettre aux Venablois de développer des contacts enrichissants non seulement avec les descendants de Gilbert de Venables, mais également avec les habitants de Middlewich. Des liens d’amitié pourront se tisser et donner lieu à des échanges.

2008 : Deuxième participation d’une délégation Venabloise au Norman Festival de Middlewich. Publication du livre « Normans at Middlewich and Venables » écrit conjointement par Tim Strickland et Patrick Lequette. Accrochage de la tapisserie réalisée conjointement par les enfants de Middlewich et de Venables retraçant la vie de Gilbert de Venables sur le sol de chaque communauté. Visite de l’école Sainte Anne de Middlewich pour évoquer la possibilité d’échanges scolaires avec l’école élémentaire de Venables.

Meeting on 25 and 26 February 2006 in Venables: Tim Strickland, Director of GIFFORD and Partner, historical heritage consultant for Middlewich Town Council. Jonathan Williams, Secretary General of Middlewich Town Council. Patrick Lequette, Deputy Mayor, Administrator of the Gilbert de Venables Cultural Centre. Francis Meyer Councillor and representative of Venables Municipal Council Four items were on the agenda:

Defining the means of historical exchange between the two communities
Participation of the Town of Middlewich in the 5th convention
Reflections on Venables’ proposals for future exchanges
Drafting of the Cultural Exchange Charter.

13 to 17 July 2011: 5th Venables Family World Convention: Mayor Jean-Marie Drouet officially welcomed the Venables families and a delegation of 14 people, led by Jane Eton, Mayor of Middlewich, Jonathan Williams, Secretary General of Middlewich Town Council, and Tim Strickland, Director of GIFFORD and Partner, on the steps of the town hall. The ceremony continued in the village hall, in the presence of official representatives from our region, including MP François Loncle and Mr Jean-Luc Recher, President of the E.M.S. Community of Communes. The speeches and presentation of gifts were followed by a reception, served on the sun-drenched esplanade of the village hall.

On Sunday 16 July, in a more formal setting but in a relaxed and serene atmosphere, delegations from Venables and Middlewich gathered to attend a mass officiated by Father Deloger and accompanied by music from Ailly. The Charities of Venables, Villers sur le Roule, Ailly and Tosny donned their ceremonial costumes for the occasion. At 11 a.m., Jeanne Ethon, Mayor of Middlewich, and Jean-Marie Drouet, Mayor of Venables, signed the official Friendship Charter between our two municipalities.

13 to 16 July 2011: 6th Venables World Family Convention: Jean-Marie Drouet officially welcomed all participants in front of the Town Hall. Patrick Lequette, Administrator of the Cultural Centre, opened the 6th convention in the presence of Mr François Loncle, Member of Parliament, and Mr Jean-Rémi Ermont, General Councillor. Isabelle Clermont, President of the ACSV, presented welcome gifts to the Venables families and the Middlewich delegation. On 16 July, in a more formal setting but in a relaxed and serene atmosphere, the delegations from Venables and Middlewich gathered to attend a mass officiated by Father Deloger and accompanied by music from Ailly. The Charities of Venables, Villers sur le Roule, Ailly and Tosny donned their ceremonial costumes for the occasion. At 11 a.m., Jeanne Ethon, Mayor of Middlewich, and Jean-Marie Drouet, Mayor of Venables, signed the official Friendship Charter between our two municipalities.

13 to 16 July 2016: 7th Venables World Family Convention

A team of 45 people led by Patrick Lequette, Mayor of Venables, worked hard for several months to welcome guests bearing the village’s name for the 7th time. They came from England, Ireland, the United States, Canada and Australia, as well as a delegation from Middlewich. For this event, 18 families from Venables were involved in providing accommodation for the Venables families.

27 June to 1 July 2023: 8th World Convention of Families Venables

Since 1986, the Convention has been held every five years, but Covid prevented travel and gatherings across the globe. The long-awaited 8th Convention was finally held in July 2023, to everyone’s delight. At 3 p.m., the first Venables families and a delegation from Middlewich arrived at the reception. A tea room was open, offering drinks and cakes, allowing for initial chats and unexpected encounters with new members of the large Venables family. The blue sky and sunshine were unable to join in the official welcome ceremony, and it was amid a guard of honour and applause from the Venables that the families were welcomed into the school buildings, which had been decorated for the occasion in Gilbert’s colours. Patrick Lequette, President of the CCGV, welcomed the families to the land of their famous ancestor and declared the 8th Venables Family Convention open. Jean-Marie Drouet, Honorary Mayor, gave a moving speech on the history of the Conventions, and Joris Benier, Mayor of Les Trois Lacs, affirmed on his own behalf and that of the elected officials present the new municipality’s attachment to the cultural character and continuity of the event.

▶ www.middlewich-heritage.org.uk

▶ www.middlewich-heritage.org.uk/norman/