Soissons before and during the war

by Unknown

THE GRAND’PLACE AND THEATRE.

Doric pillars support a large frontal with decorative carving representing Pallas and Ceres.

This door is intact, but the college buildings suffered severely.

Several shells penetrated the walls and roofing, exploding in the dormitories and class-rooms and destroying all before them.

Follow the Rue du Collège as far as the Rue des Cordeliers (first on the right) which leads to the Grand’Place (photo below). Here are 18th century houses (N^os 9-11), the early 19th century theatre and a late 19th century ornamental fountain.

The theatre suffered severely from bombardment, its roof being completely destroyed, but the fountain escaped injury.

SAINT-LÉGER CHURCH AND VICINITY.

Take the rue Saint-Léger as far as the Church of Saint-Léger, the houses round about which have been destroyed (photo above).