{"id":71,"date":"2014-11-18T14:11:25","date_gmt":"2014-11-18T13:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bassinminier.lineal.digital\/?p=71"},"modified":"2021-09-17T13:36:53","modified_gmt":"2021-09-17T12:36:53","slug":"a-varied-heritage","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bassinminier-patrimoinemondial.org\/en\/learning\/a-varied-heritage\/","title":{"rendered":"A varied heritage"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”3\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1614680299654{border-right-width: 1px !important;border-right-color: #777777 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Amazing diversity<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner content_placement=”middle”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image source=”external_link” alignment=”center” custom_src=”http:\/\/www.bassinminier-patrimoinemondial.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/127-300×200.jpg”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]he Mining Basin is surprising for various reasons. The fact that the landscape still features collieries, headgear structures, waste tips and housing developments refutes the premise that this heritage disappeared along with the coal mining industry. Moreover, the amazing diversity of its landscape does away with the clich\u00e9 of identical black waste tips rising above terraced rows of miners\u2019 houses like little boxes on the hillside! There are actually many different landscapes to be observed between the eastern and western tips of the Mining Basin. From \u00ab mines in the forest \u00bb to \u00ab mines in the countryside \u00bb by way of the industrial cities, the impact of mining takes different shapes according to natural, agricultural and urban specifics of pre-existing territory.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner content_placement=”middle”][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]At the turn of the 19th century, the mining companies were still using the same mine structure, known as \u00ab colliery-waste tip-housing development \u00bb: with waste tips to store the sterile rock and housing developments for the miners clustered around the entrance to the colliery with its surface machinery used for mining coal. Mining lasted for several centuries, and technical progress led to different shapes and types of colliery, headgear structures and waste tips. Moreover, the territory was split up among several private companies. These companies competed against each other, which led to further variety.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image source=”external_link” alignment=”center” custom_src=”http:\/\/www.bassinminier-patrimoinemondial.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/215-300×200.jpg”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

To each their own style!<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner content_placement=”middle”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image source=”external_link” alignment=”center” custom_src=”https:\/\/www.bassinminier-patrimoinemondial.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/313-300×200.jpg”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]For 150 years, the companies developed their own urban architecture and identity within their concessions, enhancing the heritage to a previously unsuspecting degree. As a display of their opulence and to distinguish themselves from the others, they adorned their headgear structures with festoons, roofing and ornamental plates, like huge badges of identity. The company head offices also had to be impressive. As one of the most prosperous mining companies along with Anzin and Courri\u00e8res, the Soci\u00e9te de Lens built its Art D\u00e9co Grand Offices in 1928 with a garden laid out in classic French style.<\/p>\n

Attracting a workforce was harder than is mostly supposed. Companies rivalled with each other to offer miners the most attractive housing and the best community facilities. Compagnie d\u2019Aniche housing developments were distinctive, with adorned fa\u00e7ades and gables. The Compagnie d\u2019Anzin decorated its fa\u00e7ades with colourful glazed bricks while that of Lens opted for half-timbering and millstone grit. In 1904, the Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 des Mines de Dourges imported the concept of garden city developments from Britain. This was soon imitated by other companies. For their community facilities, they readily employed renowned architects. The Compagnie des mines de Noeux for example asked architect Constant Moyaux, who won the Grand Prix de Rome, to build Sainte-Barbe\u2019s church. These architectural projects were good publicity and served as landmarks for companies determined to distinguish their concessions.<\/p>\n

This highly varied social heritage also applies to the miners and their families. Working class heritage forged its identity in union struggles, and leisure culture specific to the community: sport (especially football), music (miners\u2019 choirs), gardening, pigeon racing etc. A culture which respected the 29 nationalities of miners in the Mining Basin, yet again proving its amazing diversity.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]See also :<\/strong><\/p>\n