Oisemont

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Coordinates: 49°57′22″N 1°46′02″E / 49.9561111111, 1.76722222222

Commune of Oisemont Coat of arms of Oisemont
Location
Administration
Country	France
Region	Picardie
Department	Somme
Arrondissement	Amiens
Canton	Oisemont
Intercommunality	Communauté de communes de la Région d'Oisemont
Mayor	Marc Dejean (2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation	80 m–135 m (avg. 118 m)
Land area¹	8.04 km²
Population² (1999)	1,244
- Density	154/km² (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	80606/ 80140
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.

Oisemont is a commune in the Somme département in the Picardie region of northern France.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Population 3 History 4 Places of interest 5 People with links to the commune 6 See also 7 External links 8 Notes

[edit] Geography

Situated on the junction of the D25, D29 and D936 roads, some 10 south of Abbeville and 25 miles west of Amiens.

[edit] Population

Population Growth

1936	1946	1954	1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2005
1061	987	1046	997	1071	1196	1233	1285	1239	1267
Census count starting from 1962 : Population without double counting

[edit] History

• The name has its origins in Celtic religion and mythology, as ‘mont of Ésus. Over the centuries, it has been known as Ossemons,Aussemons and Wessemont. There is evidence pointing to Acheulean origins and Roman occupation. ^[1] .

• By 1275, the town was the seat of the provost of the Vimeu ^[1] .
• The Templars of Acheux ^[2] became a part of the bailiwick of Oisemont, setting up a preceptory of the house of Aisseu.
• In 1307, a second headquarters was set up by the Knights Hospitaller. The building still stands today, in the ‘rue de la Commanderie’, as do several other historic buildings^[3]
• The castle was destroyed in 1346 by the army of Edward III during the Hundred Years War. It had defensive ramparts to protect the inhabitants in times of attack. It was rebuilt and destroyed again in 1370 by John of Gaunt. ^[4]
• A Templar hospital was built on the site of the present old-peoples’ home. All that remains is a stone cross.
• The year 1472 saw Charles the Bold set fire to the town, reducing it to ashes. ^[1]
• During the Wars of Religion of the 16th century, the town was an important Protestant centre. ^[1]. By the 17th century, the Huguenots were hiding in underground passages for protection.

[edit] Places of interest

• The mairie (town hall)
• The old windmill. Sitting in the middle of a field, a little way from the town, the brick-built windmill is missing its sails, roofing and windows and is completely abandoned.
• The 12th century church of Saint-Martin ^[5], with a Romanesque entrance and a 42m tower. Restored in 1808, the nave collapsed in 1953 and it was then demolished. The new church was completed in March 1960
• The war memorials
• The Museum of Local Art, opened in 1976
• The market hall, built in 1853^[6]
• The old railway line,^[7] which served as freight transport, but also for passengers, was opened in 1872 and closed in 1993
• The ruins of the 17th century château. An entrance gate and octagonal tower are all that remain.^[8]

The mairie (town hall)	The mill in 2007	The mill in 2006	The new Saint-Martin's church
War memorial	War memorial	Museum	Market hall
Old railway line

[edit] People with links to the commune

• Charles Dumont de Sainte-Croix:^[9] 1758-1830, Ornithologist

[edit] See also

• Communes of the Somme department

[edit] External links

• Old postcards of Oisemont (French)
• The old railway from Longpré-les-corps to St.Gamaches (French)
• Oisemont on the Insee website (French)
• Oisemont on the Quid website (French)

[edit] Notes

• This article is based on the equivalent article from the French Wikipedia, consulted on March 12th 2008.