Bernadette Soubirous was born in 1844, at the Boly Mill, where her father was the local miller. However, the family business started to lose money and came to an end in 1854 and, after spending three years in temporary accommodation, moved into the former jail, the Cachot, which then became their home. It was while Bernadette was living here that she saw the vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Grotto.