Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The former long hydropower plant, built between 1901 and 1903 on an arm of the Somme, was designed by Daydé and Pillé establishments for the Compagnie Générale d'Electricité de Creil. This industrial site, served by inland waterways, combined two functions: pump water from the artesian tablecloth by day and produce electricity at night with three 32 horsepower American turbines. Built in stone and brick, the factory illustrates the modest architecture of the beginnings of rural electrical industrialization.

The factory, which was operational until 1968 (or even 1974 depending on the sources), retains almost all its original equipment: turbines, dynamos, pumps and control panels. A third turbine was added in 1928, and a replacement diesel engine was installed in 1961. Ranked as a Historic Monument in 1984, it reflects the progressive electrification of the French countryside in the 20th century. A private archive completes its history.

The Long factory has been a communal property since its closure and embodies the industrial heritage of Hauts-de-France, a region marked by the exploitation of water resources and technical innovation. Its exceptional state of conservation makes it a case study for the history of local energy networks and the adaptation of American technologies in Europe.

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