The de Braose family held Briouze until 1305. The priory housed monks from Saint Florent until the French Revolution of 1789. The building was destroyed in 1945 and the site is now the garden of the convent of the Sisters of Briouze.

The Abbé Géhan has a deep affection for the chapel. As the Secretary of the local history society, Les Amis du Houlme, he has maintained a valuable historical record.

Abbe Géhan's house can be seen beyond the chapel cemetery, with the convent on the right.

Abbé Géhan kindly sent information to us some years ago which enabled our history of the de Braose barons to take shape. It was a special pleasure to meet the Abbé (right) along with Claude and Denise (left and centre right).

The Madonna and Child preserved in Abbé Géhan's office is an extremely fine fourteenth century sculpture from the chapel of Saint Gervais.

© Lynda Denyer, Steyning, 2000