Charbonnière Washhouse, Herbeumont

It's a typical rural building where people come to wash their clothes. It's part of the daily life of the farming community and holds an important place within the village. It was a meeting place for women.
The old washhouse had a rectangular floor plan, open on one side. It was built of slate under a slate roof, a typical material for this region. The gable roof is supported by two solid wooden pillars. The water troughs, which were also once made of wood, were replaced with stone elements during a restoration of the complex in 1903. Below these is a trough with sloping edges, fitted with a concrete kneeling plate to facilitate beating out the laundry. The sink, unfortunately, has disappeared. The water troughs at the entrance to the complex were used to water the livestock, but also to supply the other troughs used for washing and rinsing. The building, which had suffered severe damage over the years, has been completely restored: the roof has been replaced and the walls reinforced. The entire complex has been beautifully whitewashed, adding to its charm. (Cirkwi)

Washing place