Anctoville Explained

Anctoville
Arrondissement:Bayeux
Canton:Les Monts d'Aunay
Insee:14011
Postal Code:14240
Commune:Aurseulles
Coordinates:49.1061°N -0.7056°W
Elevation M:90
Elevation Min M:62
Elevation Max M:158
Area Km2:17.48
Population:1081
Population Date:2019
Population Footnotes:[1]

Anctoville (in French pronounced as /ɑ̃ktɔvil/) is a former commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region of north-western France. On 1 January 2017, it was merged into the new commune Aurseulles.[2]

Geography

Anctoville is located some 30 km south-west of Caen and 5 km north-west of Villers-Bocage in the Bessin area in the Seulles valley. It can be accessed by the D67 road from Saint-Germain-d'Ectot in the north passing through the village and continuing south-east to Villers-Bocage. The D92 road also passes through the length of the commune and the village from south-west to north-east. In the north-east of the commune the D33 road from Longraye in the north passes through and continues south-east to Villers-Bocage. Finally in the north-east is also the D173A road connecting the D92 and the D67. The commune consists entirely of farmland except for two small areas of forest in the north.

The Ruisseau des Landes forms a part of the northern border. Le Candon stream passes through the commune flowing towards the north-east and forming part of the northern border of the commune. Le Seulles stream forms part of the southern border before flowing just south of the village then continuing north-east to form most of the eastern border joining Le Candon at the northern tip of the commune. The Ruisseau David forms the south-eastern border and flows north to join Le Seulles. Le Gallichon stream also forms part of the southern border before joining Le Seulles in the south.[3]

History

The name Anctoville comes from Asketillville' meaning "Anquetil farm" (Anquetoville then later Anctoville). Cf. Ancretteville-sur-Mer.

The former name of Anctoville was Coisnières or Cornières until 1616.[4] Olivier Foulognes, the King's butler, bought the Lordship of Cornières and obtained a change of name. This fief became part of the Bailiwick of Briquessart. The oldest document showing what was the Parish of Coisnières dates from the 12th century. It was a charter of confirmation of goods given by Henry, King of England and Duke of Normandy, at Lessay.[5]

In June 1944, during the Battle of Villers-Bocage, Orbois castle housed the headquarters of the German armoured division Panzer Lehr commanded by Fritz Bayerlein.[6] Anctoville was liberated on 1 August 1944 by the British 61st reconnaissance battalion.[7] These events inspired a scenario in the video game Call of Duty 2 on the Xbox 360.[8]

In 1973, Anctoville (population 394 in 1968) merged with Feuguerolles-sur-Seulles (with 70 inhabitants to the east of the territory), Orbois (120 inhabitants in the north), and Sermentot (182 inhabitants in the north-east). The communes retained the status of Associated communes of France.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors[9]

From To Name Party Position
? 2001 Albert Marie
2001 2017 Gérard Leguay Farmer

The council was composed of fifteen members:

The mayor was assisted by two deputies.

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Anctovillais or Anctovillaises in French.[10] Anctoville itself had 1,210 inhabitants in 1806. The four communes that merged in 1973 had a total of 2,608 inhabitants in 1836 (1,173 in Anctoville, 299 in Feuguerolles-sur-Seulles, 233 in Orbois, and 903 in Sermentot).

Economy

The commune has an essentially agriculture oriented economy. At the communal inventory of 1998 it had 46 farms, 28 of which were of a professional standard classified by INSEE, for an area of 1,848 hectares used. There were 68 farms in 1988. The main production is the raising of cattle for milk and meat. Arable land is used for forage and grain crops.[11]

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

Religious heritage

Notable people linked to the commune

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/6011070/ensemble.pdf Téléchargement du fichier d'ensemble des populations légales en 2019
  2. https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/eli/arrete/2016/9/8/INTB1629483A/jo/texte Arrêté préfectoral
  3. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Anctoville,+France/@49.112203,-0.69143,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x480bb4ba5562a1cd:0xd28ab03825483a47 Google Maps
  4. Role of vassals and rear vassals of the Bailiwick of Caen in 1552, p. 276, Émile Travers
  5. Monumental Statistics of Calvados, Arcisse de Caumont
  6. http://www.panzerace.net/english/pz_vil.asp?page=3 panzerace.net - villers bocage
  7. http://glosters.tripod.com/61st44a.htm The 61st in the Western Europe Campaign 1944
  8. http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/xbox360_cod2_mappacks.asp Game Reviews
  9. http://www.francegenweb.org/mairesgenweb/resultcommune.php?id=18574 List of Mayors of France
  10. https://www.habitants.fr/calvados-14 Le nom des habitants du 14 - Calvados
  11. http://agreste.agriculture.gouv.fr/reperes/communes/ Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Agreste, Statistics, Evaluation and prospects for Agriculture - Communes
  12. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  13. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée