Ercheu

Ercheu (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 km south of Nesle and 13 km 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.

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