Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

By the end of World War I, the Bethune Mining Company was considering the creation of a network of medical and social works for its employees and workers. This project ended in 1924 with the planning of the construction of the Société de Secours Mutuels des Mines de Lens in Grenay. A first office building was completed in 1926, followed by three pavilions to house doctors and consultations. Two of these pavilions were connected by a covered porch at the back.

The health centre was inaugurated in March 1932, centralizing several medical specialists to improve monitoring of the health of minors. After the creation of the Social Mining Security in 1947, the site was expanded: the two joint pavilions were connected by a large building, and the terrace of the first building was covered. The roof terraces are also transformed into four-slope roof tiles for better waterproofness, marking the architectural and functional evolution of the site.

This monument illustrates the social commitment of the mining companies of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, in a context where the working conditions of the miners were particularly challenging. The Mutual Relief Society reflects a desire to improve care and prevention for a workforce exposed to major industrial risks. Its architecture, adapted to medical needs, and its integration into the urban fabric of Grenay make it a key testimony of the regional industrial and social heritage.

The facades and roofs of the building were inscribed in the Historic Monuments by order of 12 January 2010, highlighting their heritage value. The site, originally designed to meet the specific needs of miners, is now part of a collective memory related to French mining history, while recalling the social advances brought by coal companies at the beginning of the twentieth century.

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