Almond

Ercheu (French pronunciation: [ɛʁʃø]; Picard: Èrchu ) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.

Etymology of the place name

Diverting from the Latin word " Arx-Arcis ", strengthened place:

 988 : Arceium 
1048 : Archeium
1150 : Erceium
1170 : Erchive
1237 : Herciaus
1248 : Erchieu
1633 : Erchu
1705 : Archeu
1764 : Ercheu

The name of the municipality is unchanged since 1764.

Geography

Ercheu lies on the D15 and D168 junction, and is around 7.5 kilometres (5 mi) south of Nesle and 13 kilometres (8 mi) east of Roye, stretching from the Canal du Nord to the Petit Ingon, which originates in the neighbouring municipality of Libermont, in the Département of Oise. Although peak tunnel "Souterrain de Panneterie" of the Canal du Nord lies outside the neighbouring municipality, it is named after Ferme La Panneterie located in Ercheu.

The castle-like Ferme Lannoy was a monastery named Notre Dame ('Our Lady') in the 14th century.

History

There was once an Merovingian cemetery in Ercheu. Since 1120 there was also a leper colony.

In the First World War, the village was destroyed. The community received the Croix de guerre 1914-1918 as an award.

The former villages Bessancourt, Ramecourt, and Wailly-lès-Ercheu were abandoned.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	576	—
1975	601	+0.61%
1982	648	+1.08%
1990	709	+1.13%
1999	704	−0.08%
2007	790	+1.45%
2012	813	+0.58%
2017	785	−0.70%
Source: INSEE^[3]

Administration

The current mayor is François Lamaire, in office since 2014 and re-elected in 2020.^[1] Ercheu is part of the communauté de communes du Grand Roye since January 1, 2012.