Bouverie

Etymology

Here is a terminology which is not difficult to determine. The word is Latin and Romance Bovaria or Bouverie quite simply means the dwelling of oxen and by extension the smallholding.

Bouverie is not common quite old. It goes back to 1845, time to which the hamlet was detached from Frameries and was set up in commune. Located in edge of large forest pasturages, Bouverie was not, at the beginning, that part of Frameries on which one raised oxen.

In truth, this name should not apply to all the commune of Bouverie, but exclusively to an undulating part where, under the guard of the herdsmen of the lord of the manor of Harbée, the herds of bovines grazed grass essential to their food.

History

There are few notorious facts in its past. One however speaks about a conflict which rose with 16th and 17th about high justice between the count de Hainaut and the Chapter of Holy-Waudru. Finally, a stop of the sovereign Council, going back to 1726, allocated it to the first.

One also reports that one found formerly on the territory of Bouverie, a seigniory or stronghold of Lambrechies (dwelling of Lambert or Lambrecht) whose founders quoted as of XIIe century had any justice. A vestige is remained with this name: the title of a colliery of sad famous.

Within the framework of the history and geography of Bouverie, it should be specified that several localities come from name of brooks which cross it: Rieu of the Heart, the Brook of Champré, that of Harbée (which gave its name to the district of Harbaix). There is besides always a “street of the Brook” with Bouverie.

The commune was known for its industry of the shoe, now disappeared. It is the “Factory of Theater”, provincial tool for development of the performing arts, which were established in the buildings of the old “School of the Shoe”.

Bouverie; following the example other communes of the Coal-mining, was the starting point many Protestant missions throughout the world.

Famous characters

Jacques Wesoly-Wattier (Painter)

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