Geography

Population

History

• The name has its origins in Celtic religion
  Celtic religion
  Celtic religion may refer to:*Ancient Celtic polytheism**Druidism*Celtic Christianity**Celtic Rite**Celtic Orthodox Church**Celtic Catholic Church*Celtic Neopaganism**Neodruidism**Celtic Wicca**Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism...
  
   and mythology, as ‘mont of Ésus
  Esus
  Esus or Hesus was a Gaulish god known from two monumental statues and a line in Lucan's Bellum civile.-Imagery:The two statues on which his name appears are the Pillar of the Boatmen from among the Parisii and a pillar from Trier among the Treveri. In both of these, Esus is portrayed cutting...
  
  . Over the centuries, it has been known as Ossemons,Aussemons and Wessemont. There is evidence pointing to Acheulean
  Acheulean
  Acheulean is the name given to an archaeological industry of stone tool manufacture associated with early humans during the Lower Palaeolithic era across Africa and much of West Asia, South Asia and Europe. Acheulean tools are typically found with Homo erectus remains...
  
   origins and Roman
  Ancient Rome
  Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
  
   occupation.

• By 1275, the town was the seat of the provost
  Provost (civil)
  A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
  
   of the Vimeu.
• The Templars of Acheux
  Acheux
  Acheux is part of the name of two commune of the Somme department of northern France:* Acheux-en-Amiénois* Acheux-en-Vimeu...
  
    became a part of the bailiwick
  Bailiwick
  A bailiwick is usually the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff, and may also apply to a territory in which the sheriff's functions were exercised by a privately appointed bailiff under a royal or imperial writ. The word is now more generally used in a metaphorical sense, to indicate a sphere of...
  
   of Oisemont, setting up a preceptory of the house of Aisseu.
• In 1307, a second headquarters was set up by the Knights Hospitaller
  Knights Hospitaller
  The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
  
  . The building still stands today, in the ‘rue de la Commanderie’, as do several other historic buildings
• The castle was destroyed in 1346 by the army of Edward III during the Hundred Years War. It had defensive ramparts
  Defensive wall
  A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
  
   to protect the inhabitants in times of attack. It was rebuilt and destroyed again in 1370 by John of Gaunt.
• A Templar hospital was built on the site of the present old-peoples’ home. All that remains is a stone cross.
• The year 1472 saw Charles the Bold set fire to the town, reducing it to ashes.
• During the Wars of Religion
  French Wars of Religion
  The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
  
   of the 16th century, the town was an important Protestant centre. By the 17th century, the Huguenots were hiding in underground passages for protection.

Places of interest

• The mairie (town hall)
• The old windmill. Sitting in the middle of a field, a little way from the town, the brick-built windmill is missing its sails, roofing and windows and is completely abandoned.
• The twelfth century church of Saint-Martin, with a Romanesque
  Romanesque architecture
  Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
  
  entrance and a 42m tower. Restored in 1808, the nave collapsed in 1953 and it was then demolished. The new church was completed in March 1960
• The war memorials
• The Museum of Local Art, opened in 1976
• The market hall, built in 1853
• The old railway line, which served as freight transport, but also for passengers, was opened in 1872 and closed in 1993
• The ruins of the 17th century château. An entrance gate and octagonal tower are all that remain.

External links

• Old postcards of Oisemont
• The old railway from Longpré-les-corps to St.Gamaches
• Oisemont on the Quid website