Ancienne Poudrerie Royale de Saint-Ponce

The Espérance textile factory, founded by Jules Varinet in 1872 in Gaulier, became a public limited company in 1900 and suffered damage during the First World War. In 1930, Henrion took over its management, then the SATA of the Laurant brothers managed the site after 1940. The factory ceased its activity in 1980. The northern workshops probably date from the end of the 19th century, while those in the east and the machine room are after 1918.

Municipal property until 2004, the site has since been occupied by the Raguet sawmill. In 1909, 500 workers produced up to 15 m² of fabric per day. Rectangular in shape and bordered to the south by the Meuse, the factory has platforms for fuel. At the south-east corner, the power station and the reinforced concrete boiler room mark the entrance. A brick chimney remains, facing offices made of limestone rubble. The reinforced concrete workshops have a skylight, and those to the north, made of rubble, have metal frames on cast iron posts. The stores are rendered and covered with long-span roofs.