Farm Marchiennegoed

The Marchiennegoed was a waystation estate of the abbey of Marchienne (waystation = resting place for wandering monks on their way to their possessions in the region). The estate is at the origin of the formation of Reninge. Until the French period (1795-1815), it was a 'uithoeve', owned by the North French Benedictine abbey of Marchiennes on the Scarpe. The site likely originated from the tithe barn of the aforementioned abbey, which has been mentioned in sources since 1140.

A tithe barn or tithe store is the building where, during the Middle Ages and the Ancien Régime, the tax from tenants and other farmers was stored for a lord (or a monastery). This usually involved the rent in kind, either a predetermined number of sheaves or a fixed share of the harvest. Additionally, many farmers were required to pay tithes. They had to contribute a tenth of the harvest, originally to ecclesiastical institutions, and later to private owners who had purchased ecclesiastical rights.

In many cases, these were monastery barns, originally used by the monasteries' own agricultural operations and their outlying farms. The Latin name grangium for monastery farm is (indirectly) derived from the word granarium (grain storehouse).

The medieval barn emerged from the twelfth century on monastery farms, crown domains, and noble estates. Predecessors included the medieval reception hall, the prehistoric dwelling-stable house, and the Roman grain storehouse.

From the brochure: This historical farm lies at the basis of the formation of Reninge. When Saint Rictrudis entered the monastery of Marchienne, the estate came into church possession. During the French Revolution, the buildings were sold.

Rictrudis, see: http://www.heiligen.net/heiligen/05/12/05-12-0688-rictrudis.php

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