A commemorative sedan in front of the town hall of Fresnes-sur-Escaut. – V. Ticket / 20 Minutes
- The discovery of coal, three hundred years ago in Fresnes-sur-Escaut, near Valenciennes (North), is the origin of the birth of the Pas-de-Calais mining basin, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. in 2012.
- While the coal industry stopped in 1990 in the region, the town of Valenciennois is preparing to celebrate the tercentenary of the discovery of this first gaillette in Hauts-de-France.
- The director of archives at the Lewarde historic mining center (Pas-de-Calais), Virginie Malolepszy, tells us more about the importance of this discovery and the 300 years of history that resulted from it.
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In the North, there was coal. Regional black gold. Its discovery, in Fresnes-sur-Escaut,
near Valenciennes, in 1720, was at the origin of the
North – Pas-de-Calais mining basin, operated until 1990 and
listed as a UNESCO heritage eight years ago.
Three centuries later, the commune of Valenciennois will celebrate this anniversary for several months, starting on Sunday February 2 *. Celebrations that live up to the importance of sedimentary rock in the region, as explained by Virginie Malolepszy, director of archives at the Lewarde historic mining center.
How to explain the discovery of coal at Fresnes?
It is not a coincidence. At the beginning of the 18th century, it was used by small businesses in the region, from Mons and Charleroi. In 1713, the treaties of Utrecht created new territories. Men wonder why there are none on the other side of the border and look for him there.
Did everything go very quickly?
There was no coal revolution from 1720. Until 1830, it was the time of the pioneers, the first age. At that time, the problem was to find a method to pump the water. Man invents, discovers and develops extraction and casing methods. The first companies are created.
And then ?
From 1830 to 1914, it was the second period: the conquest of the West. We understand that it will play a major role in the economy. There is speculation, money. We need coal, but the vein was lost, at one time, north of the Douaisis. Two game-changing events: his fortuitous discovery during a drilling at Oignies and the development of geology. We no longer dig by chance. The vein is found in the northwest, everything is going very fast. In 1880, the basin represented 45% of national production. In 1900, with 130,000 employees every day, 67%. It’s the era of the coal king.
Why does it stop?
The start of the third period, which ran from 1914 to 1990, was very difficult with two world wars and an economic crisis. The mining basin is still the leading French producer. In the 1960s, the state chose to end the exploitation of coal in favor of petroleum and nuclear power. We have prepared for the closure with the gradual reconversion of infrastructure and personnel. There were 122,000 miners in 1960, 26,000 in 1980.
Mining has marked the history of the region …
When we talk about the mining basin, we are talking about a territory 120 km long by 6 to 12 wide, a million and a half inhabitants and 250,000 people working at most. The impact was considerable, especially since we were almost in a single industry. For over a hundred years, coal has made all industries in France turn. So many men and women worked there.
Many immigrants…
There was immigration throughout the operation. The first were Belgian workers who knew the trade, who came during the 18th century and until 1920. There was also the great Polish wave of the inter-war period. In all, 29 nationalities came to work in the mines.
* The full program of festivities can be found on www.fresnes-sur-escaut.fr
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