Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Barbe de La Sentinelle originated in the reconversion of a mining pit opened in 1818 by the Compagnie des Mines d'Anzin. This coal mine, which was operated until 1830, was transformed into a place of worship after the well was tightened in 1852. A chapel was built there in 1853 and blessed the following year, marking the beginning of his religious vocation. Expansion work, such as the addition of a sacristy and a stand, was carried out in 1872 to adapt the building to its parish use.

The Sentinel pit, although not very productive, gained a reputation thanks to this unique conversion. Around it, mining towns (corons) were built in 1825 to house the workers, forming an architectural complex characteristic of the mining basin. These corons, like the church, were listed as historical monuments in 2009, then listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012, recognizing their historical and social value.

The site illustrates the transition from the industrial era to heritage preservation. The head of the well, materialized by Charbonnages de France in the 21st century, recalls its mining past, while the church and its annexes symbolize the adaptation of infrastructures to new functions. The engineer Paul Castiau, mentioned as the prime contractor, contributed to this transformation, thus linking workers' memory and religious heritage.

The annual BRGM inspections and legal protections highlight the importance of this site, both as a testimony to mining history and as an example of architectural conversion. Together, including the coron of the Church and the nearby dispensary, forms a Unesco site (No. 13), representative of the industrial and social heritage of the Hauts-de-France.

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