For its 40th anniversary, the Lewarde Mining Center tells you its story

To understand the establishment of this site in Lewarde, we must go back to the history of the Delloye pit. It belonged to the former Compagnie des Mines d’Aniche. It began its activity in 1931, almost 200 years after the discovery of the presence of coal near Anzin by a certain Jacques Désandrouin.

That year, Lewarde miners extracted 18,634 tons of coal. It’s only a beginning. The record was reached in 1963 with 1,218 tonnes extracted per day. But the deposit is difficult to exploit. It quickly became unprofitable and its operation ceased in 1971.

A historic mining center to bear witness to

At the same time, the management of the Houillères du Bassin minier du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais was already considering the creation of a historic center to bear witness to the mining activity in the region. How to keep industrial memory alive, but also the memory of social and cultural life in the settlements. In short, about the lives of miners and their families.

At the instigation of Alexis Destruys, Secretary General of the Coal Mines, the project was validated on November 6, 1973. The Delloye pit in Lewarde was chosen. This choice is explained, among other things, by the aesthetic aspect of the buildings built in a green environment and by its position in the heart ofœheart of the mining basin. From then on, as the other pits closed, materials, documents and archives flocked to the Delloye pit.

The Mining Historical Center was officially opened in July 1982. It will consist of three complementary structures: a mining museum, an archives and documentary resources center and a center for scientific culture of energy (CCSE). The site opened its doors to the public in May 1984 and immediately welcomed 17,600 visitors, who could tour the hanging room (the miners’ locker room) with explanations from former miners. An added value that will make the site famous.

From year to year, the Historic Center grew: the glass roof of the machines was built in 1986 and the 450 meters of reconstructed galleries opened to the public in 1987. As a result, the Center’s notoriety increased and in 1988 the museum exceeded the 100,000 visitors.

A before and after “Germinal”

In 1993, Germinal, the film by Claude Berri, is released on screens. A real shot of firedamp! The French are rediscovering the world of mining. The Historic Mining Center benefits greatly from this and welcomes 168,000 visitors. The following year, in 1994, Lewarde welcomed its millionth visitor!

In 2002,
the Center inaugurates 4,000 m² of new or redeveloped buildings, as part of an architectural and museographic restructuring, which allows the public to be received in a new building. This offers a new permanent exhibition, “The three ages of mining”, and it is in these new spaces that the two millionth visitor to the museum is welcomed during the exhibition “Women in the mine, miners’ wives”, which was awarded the label of national interest by the Ministry of Culture.

In 2012, the Historical Mining Center celebrates 30 years of the creation of the association and the inclusion of the Nord-Pas de Calais mining basin as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Then in 2014, the exhibition “The Mining Basin at the cœur of conflicts” obtains the Centenary label, as part of the commemorations linked to the First World War. The following year, the Historical Mining Center reached the milestone of four millionth visitor!

In 2020, he participates in the tercentenary of the discovery of coal in the North of France with its exhibition 1720, coal at the heart of revolutions.

Free festivities for 40th birthdays

• Friday May 3: Carreau on stage, 6 artists from the Mining Basin, in all musical genres. An event offered in partnership with the 9-9 bis pit of Oignies, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Free upon reservation on 03 27 95 82 82.
• From May 2 to 5: 40 films for 40 years: continuous broadcast in the auditorium of the Center of 40 corporate films from the Houillères du Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Free and free access to the site, exhibitions and activities.
• Sunday May 5: take part in the baptism of the giant of the Historic Mining Center. Meet at 9:45 a.m. at Place des Vésignons in Lewarde. More than 30 giants from the region will be gathered for the occasion. Free.
• Saturday May 18: on the occasion of European Museum Night, entertainment in the heart of the Delloye pit with tightrope walker, jugglers, contortionist and acrobats from the Lomme Regional Circus Arts Center. From 7 p.m. to midnight. Free and open access.