Ferme Henri
Ferme Henri is an old farm in Belgium. It stands in a small village. The barn of the building once worked as a mill. The farmer sold flour, wheat, and grain.
This farm is from the 19th century. It has a long layout: a house, a stable, and a barn, all in one row. Inside the barn, we found an interesting machine. It is an old electric motor. On both sides, it has big round covers. These are inspection covers to open and check the inside. The shape of the motor, with the round parts, looks a bit like a mouse face.
Grain mill
This motor was used to drive a millstone or grinding system. It was part of a grain mill. These machines were used to grind wheat, rye, and other grains into flour. Machines like this were common in small rural mills. They worked like this well into the 20th century. Farms like Ferme Henri were important for food production in the area. The flour was sold to locals. On the old price list inside the farm, you can still read he also sold potatoes and rice.
Now, the buildings are silent. But traces of the past are still there, the price list, the motor, and the decaying walls of the old farm. They tell the story of daily life and hard work.
Ferme Henri is a beautiful place to explore. It shows the link between living and working in old rural Belgium. Even in decay, the farm keeps its charm and history. I visited the abandoned farm in 2023.
Update 2024
The farm was demolished in 2024 to make place for new housing.
