Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Fontinette elevator, located at Arques on the Neufosse Canal, was built between 1883 and 1887 to replace a scale of five inefficient locks. Inaugurated on 8 July 1888, it allowed to cross a 13.13 metre climb in 20 minutes, compared to 90 minutes for the climb and 70 minutes for the descent via the old locks. Its hydraulic operation, inspired by the English elevator of Anderton, used two tanks balanced by pistons, requiring precise water handling to ensure the tipping.

The construction was supervised by engineer Bertin, in collaboration with Edwin Clark, designer of the elevator in Anderton. The metal elements were made by the Society of Former Cail Establishments, while George Penin monitored the plans. The elevator operated until 1967, when it was replaced by a modern lock, the Fontinette lock, capable of holding six barges in 30 minutes instead of two. Despite its stop, it was classified as a historical monument in 2014 for its unique heritage value in France.

Between 2009 and 2013, work was carried out to adapt the site to large vessels, including the raising of tanks from 60 to 65 cm and the decontamination of asbestos. Today inactive but preserved, the elevator is accessible via the Aa Valley Tourist Railway, which offers guided tours between May and September. Similar elevators, such as those in the Centre Canal, remain in operation in Belgium.

The Fontinettes Lock, built in 1967, is 144 metres long and allows a more fluid traffic between the basin of the Aa and that of the Lys. A renovation project, estimated at EUR 200 million, plans to transform it into a double-lock lock by 2032, within the framework of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal. This project will include savings pools to optimize water management and complementary road and river infrastructure.

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