Opening of pit 1 1851 (≈ 1851)
Start of mining work at Nœux-les-Mines.
1927
Construction of pharmacy
Construction of pharmacy 1927 (≈ 1927)
Creation of the art deco health centre.
1946
Nationalization of mines
Nationalization of mines 1946 (≈ 1946)
Integration into the Bethune Group.
1968
Closure of pit
Closure of pit 1968 (≈ 1968)
End of extraction, industrial conversion.
2010
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 2010 (≈ 2010)
Protection of facades and roofs.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The facades and roofs (case AL 349): inscription by decree of 12 January 2010
Key figures
Adrien Aubé de Bracquemont - Chief of the Mining Company
Innovative mining facility in the 19th century.
Origin and history
The central pharmacy of the Compagnie des Mines de Vicoigne-Noeux-Drocourt was built in 1927 in Nœux-les-Mines, in the department of Pas-de-Calais. It was part of a mining health network initiated by the Act of 1894 which introduced a social security scheme for underground workers. This health centre, designed in a characteristic art deco style, included a pharmacy, a radiography room, specialized medical offices (dentist, oculist), and a child health service. It became a model for other mining companies in the region, such as Bethune.
The central pharmacy was located near pit no.1-1 bis, a major mining site opened in 1851 and modernized over the decades. This site, which was nationalized in 1946, ceased extractive activity in 1968 before being converted into an industrial zone. The pharmacy, on the other hand, symbolized the social commitment of mining companies, offering free consultations and accessible care to miners and their families. Its architecture and vocation made it a key element of the industrial and medical heritage of Hauts-de-France.
In 2010, the facades and roofs of the central pharmacy were listed as historical monuments, recognizing its historical and architectural importance. This building illustrates the evolution of the living conditions of minors, marked by social and health advances at the beginning of the twentieth century. Today, it bears witness to the mining heritage of the region, along with other preserved buildings such as the large offices, central workshops or the Sainte-Barbe church, also classified.
The mining context of Nœux-les-Mines was marked by a strong community organization, with workers' towns, cooperatives and infrastructure dedicated to the well-being of workers. The central pharmacy was therefore designed to meet the needs of a population exposed to the risks of coal mining. Its inscription in the heritage reflects the desire to preserve the memory of this industrial era and its social innovations.
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