867830 Illustrations of a Lavoir, 1887 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Published in "Le Dictionnaire de l\'Ameublement et de la decoration depuis le XIII siecle jusqu\'a nos jours", 1887 A Lavoir is a public place in France set aside for the washing of clothes. They are commonly sited on a spring or beside or set over a river. Many Lavoirs are provided with roofs for shelter. With the coming of piped water supplies and modern drainage, lavoirs have been steadily falling into disuse although a number of communes have restored ancient lavoirs some of which date back to the 10th Century.); English, out of copyright.