Country France Department Somme Intercommunality Pays Hamois Area 9.5 km² Arrondissement Péronne | Region Hauts-de-France Canton Ham Population (2006) 5,438 Local time Wednesday 10:43 AM | |
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Weather 11°C, Wind N at 3 km/h, 85% Humidity | ||
Ham is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
Contents
Map of 80400 Ham, France
Geography
Ham is situated on the D930 and D937 crossroads, some 21 kilometres (13 mi) southwest of Saint-Quentin, in the far southeast of the department, near the border with the department of the Aisne. The nearby villages of Estouilly and Saint-Sulpice joined the commune of Ham in 1965 and 1966 respectively.
History
Mentioned for the first time in 932 as a possession of the seigneur Erard, junior member of the Counts of Ponthieu. The town was later conquered by the Counts of Vermandois in the 12th century. In the 14th century it was owned by a family from Ham itself. From April 7 to June 3, 1917, Ham was home to the Lafayette Escadrille
The Castle of Ham
The first stone ramparts were put up in the 13th century by the local nobleman, Odon IV.
In the 15th century, the château was transformed into a formidable fortress by John II of Luxembourg, Count of Ligny
In 1465, John's nephew, Louis of Luxembourg, built a huge donjon, 33m high, 33m in diameter with walls 11m thick
In 1917, German forces blew up much of the château. All that remains are the entrance tower and vestiges of the donjon and ramparts.
Personalities
Twin towns
Eisfeld, Germany