The Benedictine abbey of Saint-Nicolas-des-Prés-sous-Ribemont was founded in 1083 by Anselm II, Lord of Ribemont. On one arm of the river, where the monks had fishing rights, arose in the late 12th century, the mill Hocquerel which thus allowed religious find around them all the amenities and necessities. The Benedictine Abbey also served as a safe refuge for travelers. The abbey was recognized "royal foundation" pursuant to a decision of the Council of 1678: its founder Anselm II, descended from the Counts of Vermandois, who derived their origin from Charlemagne. Possessions and privileges of the abbey were considerable.
Burned in 1570, pillaged, ravaged, and partly destroyed during the wars of religion, the abbey was rebuilt in 1663 and prior Dupart Jean worked to implement reforms and restore the Benedictine rule in its purity. Confiscated as national property, the abbey was sold in 1791 to speculators who sold it in parts. In 1804 it was bought by the family of General La Tour-Maubourg who made great work to convert it into a castle. On 10 July 1815, the Prussians ravaged the castle to avenge the general who had, as a volunteer in the campaign of 1814 the French army.
In 1832, Mr. Hello bought what remained of the cloister, to establish a woolen mill. It is at this time that was built a dwelling house that can be seen on the left side of the cloister entering the property (Pavilion) and the large building that housed the steam engine and the spinning lies to the right of existing buildings. Spinning was installed in Pavilion and trades in large rooms on the ground floor and first floor of the east wing of the cloister. Spinning stopped in 1895. The abbey suffered the vicissitudes of the early 20th century and was repeatedly sold. It is still privately owned.