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Origin and history

La Goutte de lait de la compagnie des mines de Marles, located in Auchel, was founded in the early 20th century by Firmin Rainbows, president of the company, inspired by the initiative of Léon Dufour in Fécamp. This clinic aimed to reduce infant mortality, a crucial issue for mining companies facing an ageing workforce and increasing dependence on immigration. The building, designed by architect Charles Fournier in the shape of a reverse T, was first presented at the Exposition du Nord de la France in Arras in 1904 before being brought back to Auchel. It housed medical services, a pasteurization laboratory and spaces dedicated to consultations for mothers and their newborns.

Inaugurated in 1903, the Goutte de lait welcomed 204 registered mothers, including 18 beneficiaries of the sterilised milk distribution service. The building, prefabricated in concrete and bricks, was equipped with radiators to maintain a constant temperature (18-20°C) and large windows to illuminate the rooms. Its façade had symbolic decorations (babys drinking milk, cows in cartridges), reflecting its health and social vocation. Today owned by the municipality of Auchel, its facades and roofs have been protected since 2009, and the site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012 for its testimony on industrial and medical history.

This project was part of a broader policy in Pas-de-Calais, where the General Council and the Prefecture encouraged the creation of infant and milk drop consultations in 1902 to improve public health. Auchel's structure, through its architectural innovation and its role in combating infant mortality, illustrates the commitment of mining companies to the welfare of their workers, while meeting economic imperatives. Its history also reflects the health challenges of the time, marked by rapid urbanization and difficult living conditions in mining areas.

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