Usine du May, Industrial heritage site in Thiers, France.
The Usine du May is a four-story granite factory in Thiers with a distinctive facade made of lava bands, brick frames, and a terrace roof with lattice guards. The building keeps its original mechanical systems, powered by a hydraulic turbine installed beneath the structure.
The building was constructed in 1895 by the Parisian cutlery company Grange Jeune J. Lepage and closed in 1900. It was later taken over by Ets Vital Hygonnet and put into service for the local knife trade.
The factory shows how knife making evolved in Thiers, with workshops that once housed craftspeople and small businesses side by side. These spaces reflect the working methods that were typical of the local trade.
Access to the building is by way of a metal bridge that crosses the Durolle River, which makes for a distinctive approach. A preserved freight elevator serves all four levels and makes the different floors easily accessible.
A metal footbridge spans the river and provides an unusual way to reach the building. This arrangement was needed because the factory was built on a tight plot of land beside the Durolle River.
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