Delsamme Farm - Strépy

The Delsamme farm dates from the 18th century . The old sundial, still preserved on the entrance portal-dovecote, bears the date 1793. It is located on the square near the St. Martin's Church and the presbytery. The adjacent land extends to the fishponds and those of the nature reserve.

Square in shape, distributed around a paved courtyard, there are buildings whitewashed with bricks, rubble sandstone or limestone. It was renovated in the 19th and 20th centuries. It still has its long barn, supported along its entire length by seven buttresses, and a character reminiscent of the farmhouses of yesteryear.

The farm was owned by the Delsamme family, who ran it for many years, until 1941. It then passed into the hands of various owners, before being bought by the city of la Louvière in 1985. From 1990, the Centre for the Interpretation of agricultural life in an industrial region there was created, until 2001. The non-profit organisation Les Étangs de Strépy also has a building there as part of the "fisheries" committee.

Located on an exceptional natural and heritage site , in Strépy-Bracquegnies, a historic rural commune in the Centre region, Ferme Delsamme is a training company (eft) dependent on the CPAS of La Louvière. As a socio-professional integration centre (cisp), it is active in five training sectors: organic horticulture, maintenance of green spaces, show and event techniques, multi-purpose training of employees and catering.

The aim is the social-professional reintegration of people who experience social, cultural, family or other difficulties. The training is aimed at job seekers, beneficiaries of an integration income, people recognized by Awiph or people without income.

The techniques learned allow the production of goods or services aimed at the socialization and empowerment of trainees, but also at the acquisition of knowledge, skills, attitudes and socio-professional behaviors to facilitate their integration into the world of work. To do this, the training is accompanied by technical and theoretical courses adapted to the participant.

Willem Vandenameele