Wood-of-Luc

Wood-of-Luc is one of oldest the Charbonnage S of Belgium being located at Houdeng-Aimeries, current commune of Louvière, and whose activity ceased in 1973. The working Cité was built between 1838 and 1853. The site was the subject of a rehabilitation and a cultural development.

History

In 1635, seven people decide to found in Wood-of-Luc the Company of the Large Conduit and the Charbonnage of Houdeng. In 1800, the Company counts four pits (Grippagne, the Projection, the pit of Wood and the Mill). The pit Holy-Bores is dug in 1801, the pits Saint-Patrice and Saint-Charles in 1820-1821, the Saint-Amand pit in 1827. In 1807, the Company of coal mining of the Wood-of-Luc and Harbor is formed and will absorb other concessions of the surroundings.

In 1838, the Company begins construction from the working city (finished in 1853). The digging of the Emmanuel pit, started in 1835, is completed in 1846. The offices and the workshops of coal mining are installed in the vicinity in 1855. Two other wells (of Quesnoy with Trivières and of Beaulieu with Harbor) are still dark in the first part of the 20th century. Into 1936, the company is transformed into public limit company.

December 31st 1959, the Saint-Emmanuel well is closed; this closing is related to the establishment of production quotas by the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). In 1973: the " Quesnoy" , last well of the company still in activity, farm and mark end of the coal exploitation of Wood-of-Luc (leaving the site to the abandonment during seven years).

In 1980, begins the restoration from the Saint-Emmanuel pit.

Description of the site

the working Quoted of Bosquetville, also called " carrés" : built of 1838 to 1853, probably according to the plans of Victorien Borough, it includes/understands 166 residences. They form of 2 large trapezoids and 2 very regular rectangles. With the crossroads, one finds a canteen (to which one adds a village hall) and a grocer. In 1880, a stage is added to each house. In 1916, a kitchen is added to the back of each housing. Each one of these residences includes/understands a garden.

the pit Saint-Emmanuel : in activity of 1846 to 1959. The elevator cages are installed in 1851. Just in the vicinity, a washing and screening plant intended for the treatment of the coal was. A sub-station is installed there as of the end of the 19th century, which makes it possible to feed the working city near in electricity as of 1912. The serrated roller head-frame or frame still in place goes back to 1913.

the central workshops and offices of the concession: installed there since 1855, they were rebuilt in 1907.

the old people's home and the hospital : built successively in 1859 and 1867 thanks to the gift of the family Plunkett de Rathmore, owner of shares in the company of coal mining. Property of coal mining, they occupied their functions until the liquidation of the company. They were managed by religious communities.

the church Holy-Bores : a new parish is created in 1904 and the church devoted in 1905, built with the expenses of the company, in the neo-gothic style.

Current location

The residences are repurchased by the Institute of housing in 1974 then the Walloon region and are completely rehabilitated. They are currently managed by the Louvièrois Hearth. One of the houses can be visited.

Today, the mining site of Wood-of-Luc comprises two museums: the écomusée regional one of the Center and, to a hundred meters from there, museum of the mine Robert Pourbaix, all two located in the old workshops and offices of coal mining.

References

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