Valenciennes: The Return Part 2

The River Rhônelle

Marly

I had made a quick visit to the mill at Marly on my last visit and wanted to know more about the environment. 'Marlis' as it was called in the Middle Ages lies a little further up the Rhônelle from Valenciennes. I've also learned that the Rhônelle used to be called the Ointiel.

I felt that because the Charterhouse was built here around about the same time as Marguerite may have been living in Valenciennes, I wanted to know the lie of the land.

The walk from the park in Valenciennes along the bank of the Rhônelle was beautiful.

Eventually the trees opened out as the path reached Marly

The elderberries were ripe and would have made an excellent port wine.

I was now determined Marly (Marlis) should play a part in the story.

When I returned from my glorious walk in the sunshine, I studied some of my new material from the library and discovered that there used to be a castle, more like a country manor I expect, at Marly. It may have been built on some of the old Chaterhouse foundations.

The rest of my visit is rather boring to tell as most of it was spent at the library, searching through more resources.

But here is a copy of the act of sale from Count Jean d'Avesnes II to the prior of the Charterhouse, witnessed by one Jean de Marlis (dated Easter Tuesday, 1298)

The Count will also play a role in Marguerite's story, I feel sure.