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Origin and history

The Motte-Bossut factory, founded in 1843 by Louis Motte-Bossut in Roubaix, was originally conceived as a cotton spinning on the English model, equipped with self-acting crafts. Nicknamed the "monster spinning" for its unparalleled production capacity in the area, it was partially destroyed by fire in 1845, then rebuilt and expanded in 1846 to accommodate 44,000 pins. A second fire in 1866 completely razed the original building, forcing the transfer of production to "the annex", built to fire proof in 1862 on the other bank of the Roubaix Canal. This site, expanded in 1864 and enhanced in 1866, became the core of the present factory, marked by a neo-Gothic brick architecture (slits, toothed gables) and an innovative internal structure (brick vaults, iron beams, cast iron pillars).

In 1877, Motte-Bossut invests in a wool mill erected opposite the first, connected by a bridge replaced in 1891 by a building unifying the whole. Two crenellated towers, built in 1889 (west) and 1891 (east), surrounded the monumental entrance to the factory, symbol of its industrial power. A jewel of the textile heritage of the North, the factory was listed in the Historical Monuments in 1978, before closing in 1982 due to the crisis of the sector. Repurchased by the city of Roubaix in 1987, the site was rehabilitated between 1989 and 1993 by architect Alain Sarfati to house the Centre des Archives nationales du monde du travail, while other buildings now house the Teleport and the International Communications Centre.

The factory architecture combines industrial functionality and neo-Gothic aesthetics, with defensive elements (scenes, towers) reminiscent of medieval castles. The metal frame, composed of riveted steel shafts and inputs, supports five square floors and an attic. The crenelated fireplace (37 m) and the semi-outwork staircase tower, both decorated with Gothic patterns, highlight this stylistic hybridization. The central building, which connects the two wires, features a forebody with a toothed gable and a niche housing a statue, while the facade on Rue des Tuileries is crowned with a brick balustrade. These choices reflect the influence of English methods, both in the technical processes (self-acting machines) and in the production strategy, while affirming a strong local identity.

After its closure, the factory was transformed into a place dedicated to the memory of work, maintaining its original structure while adapting to new cultural functions. The archives it now houses document the social and economic history of the region, while its exemplary rehabilitation (the 1993 architectural prize) makes it a model for the conversion of the industrial heritage. The site, located on the former route of the Roubaix Canal (now Leclerc Boulevard), also bears witness to the urbanization linked to the industrial revolution, where the factories structured the working-class districts and river transport networks.

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