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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Sidoux factory, located at 75 rue Camille-Desmoulins in Saint-Quentin (Aisne, Hauts-de-France), is an industrial site emblematic of the 4th quarter of the 19th and 1st quarter of the 20th century. Founded in 1891 by the British industrialist Archibald Broad, it specializes in the manufacture of curtain guipure parts, a textile sector then growing. The original architecture, partially destroyed during the First World War, will be reconstructed in the same way between 1920 and 1922 under the direction of architect G. Malgras, who, among other things, restores a curved gable on the facade of the offices.

The factory changed ownership in 1902, becoming the property of Louis-Albert Sidoux, who continued his business until the balance sheet deposit in 1990. The site, which was listed as a historical monument in 1992, is preserved in its 1920s state, with all its guipure and tulle trades, its transmission devices, its shelving, as well as a collection of Jacquard drawings and cardboard. A 1920 steam engine, made by Bollingkx (Brussels), although dismantled, remains in place, illustrating the preserved technical heritage. The factory thus bears witness to the golden age of the Picardy textile industry and the associated craftsmanship.

The location of the factory, in an industrial district of Saint Quentin, reflects the urbanization linked to the industrial revolution in Picardia. The city, then dynamic thanks to its textile activities, attracts foreign investors like Broad, while local architects such as Malgras adapt the buildings to the technical and aesthetic needs of the time. The post-First World War reconstruction, faithful to the original, underscores the attachment to both a functional and architectural heritage, today rare.

Ranked among the historical monuments of the Aisne, the Sidoux factory is distinguished by its exceptional state of conservation, offering a complete overview of the manufacturing processes of the guipure. Jacquard cartons and machines, still in place, allow us to study the textile techniques of the early twentieth century. This private site, although not accessible to the public, is a major resource for French and European industrial history, particularly for the study of technology transfers between Belgium (Bollingkx machine) and France.

The decline in the factory, marked by the deposit of balance sheet in 1990, is part of a broader context of deindustrialisation affecting the Hauts-de-France region. However, its rapid inclusion in the title of historical monuments (1992) has saved a coherent whole, including both buildings and equipment. Today, Sidoux is a key milestone in understanding the evolution of industrial landscapes and the legacy of textile know-how in northern France.

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