2023-08-23 11:34:43
A restoration project is judged in the details. When we talk about that of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, victim of a fire on April 15 and 16, 2019, for nearly 15 hours, the approach is often limited to stone, wood and glass. But, as early as 1160, the monk-builders devised ingenious techniques to stabilize the Gothic pearl. Researchers have notably discovered the massive use of iron as a construction material, a first in the middle of the 12th century. Among the dozens of frames, hundreds of iron staples were thus removed and entrusted to the Théroude company in Fontaine-Bellenger, near Louviers (Eure) for an identical restoration.
In 1999, Bertrand Théroude founded his metalwork and artisanal ironwork business in his garage. In almost a quarter of a century, in his 500m2 workshop, he has made a name for himself in the tertiary sector, industry and heritage, often subcontracting to the companies Renofors, Lefèvre Paris or Aux Charpentiers de France. . Mainly in Île-de-France and Normandy, the references have multiplied such as the Château de Versailles, the Château de Chambord, the Château d’Acquigny, the Collegiate Church of Louviers, the Arc de Triomphe, the Invalides or the Palace of the Elysee. For a year, while remaining in the company, Bertrand Théroude handed over to his son Fabien.
It is therefore thanks to this reputation for know-how and through Lefèvre Paris that SARL Théroude joined the site of the century: “We have been working with Lefèvre Paris for 20 years. They specialize in twelve heritage professions, explains the founder. There they asked us to restore the staples of Notre-Dame. Without them, the cathedral would not hold. The monk-builders developed a process that can be found as far away as the Holy Land on defensive structures, castles and of course religious buildings. The stonecutters made grooves in the stone blocks and two holes. The staple was straddled from stone to stone and sealed with lead. This allowed them to bond with each other. They can thus resist ground movements, temperature differences or even shocks. Those of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris date from 1160/1170. »
The consecration of a career
After the fire, several hundred staples from the nave and transept were removed and analyzed. The architects thus decided to restore part of them and, for the most damaged, to reforge them in brass: “We will look for them as we go along on the construction site. In our workshop, we decide which can be restored. They were forged in iron highly loaded with carbon and phosphorus, therefore very hard, but brittle. They are plumbed, brushed and treated with a rust converter. For the others, so attacked by the flames, we have proposed a brass model which retains the mechanical characteristics, does not rust and will indicate the date of the restoration over the centuries. We have to go as quickly as possible, because the site is progressing well,” explains Bertrand Théroude.
For the contractor, this site is special: “For me, it’s the consecration of a career. I have always been passionate about metalwork and having access to such a site is a source of pride. It is a prestigious reference for my son and his future. This has already allowed him to get in touch for other projects. And then, we are also going to leave our name in the walls of Notre-Dame! »
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