"The building was the seat of the religious order of the commandery of Villedieu, founded at the beginning of the 12th century by the order of the Hospitallers of Saint-Jean-de-Jérusalem, which became the Order of Malta from the 16th century. It survived until the Revolution. The building is then sold as national property. There remains the Saint-Blaise chapel.
It finds its origin, according to Guillaume de Jumiège, in the gift of a 12-hectare estate made by Henri Ier Beauclerc (1068-1135) to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, in reward for the services rendered by the Hospitallers to the Crusaders during the First Crusade.
Then, the dates diverge on the date of the foundation of the commandery. It was given in 1130 to Villedieu-lès-Saultchevreuil. For Édouard Le Héricher, it was in 1170 that an abbey "known as Saint-Hôpital" was first founded, which ceased to be inhabited when its revenues were abandoned to a commander.
"Villedieu is the oldest French commandery of the Hospitaller Order of Saint-Jean-de-Jérusalem," explains Philippe Clairay, doctor of history and director of the municipal museums of Villedieu.
It is situated "in a peninsula from which a channel, named the Place, made an island which is called Île Bilheust".
A hospital was founded, quickly completed by a church, the Saint-Blaise chapel, the communal mill and the communal ovens.
In 1313, after the dissolution of the order of the Templars by Philippe Le Bel, the management of the Templar Commandery of Valcanville fell to the Commander of Viledieu.
The Commandery derives its income in particular from the fees it collects from the markets of Villedieu and Saultchevreuil, a privilege confirmed by King Henry II (1519-1559).
In 1499, it passed under the supervision of the commandery of Villedieu-les-Bailleul (Orne): it lost its appointed commander.
In 1530, the Order of Malta replaced the Brothers of Saint John of Jerusalem.
The commandery remained until the Revolution.
Every four years, the feast of the Grand coronation gives rise to a mass in the park of the Commanderie."