Places to visit
Industrial Revolution in the North of France: what? when? and why?

"Napoleon - Protector of Industry" - statue 1854	Late start The industrial revolution did not really gain momentum in France until the time of Napoleon. Before the French Revolution, under the ancien regime there was enormous inequality: the nobles paid virtually no tax, their lives centred around the Royal Court, they spent on mansions, art and fashion rather than risk their fortunes in trade, factories and mines.

Textile industry In the 18th century many cotton and linen mills were opened in the Lille area. Roubaix and Tourcoing just north of Lille specialised in wool. Oil was milled from seed crops such as rape grown in the north. By the middle of the 19th century, it was like the Manchester of northern France - with equally appalling and unhealthy slums. Coalmining A large coalfield running from Belgium into France under Valenciennes and south of Lille was gradually discovered, and opened up with many mines and slag-heaps scarring the landscape. Canals and railways A network of canals was built, so that coal and other bulk goods could be cheaply transported by barges. Later railways.		19th century coal mine with its canal, and a new railway line in the background. The slag heaps are piling up on the other side of the canal.

Places to visit: Centre Historique Minier - mining museum in old coal-mine, Lewarde Lille - Musée d'Art et d'Industrie, Roubaix (north of Lille) - collection of exhibits from local textile industry Mills Museum - Villeneuve d'Ascq Fourmies/Trélon: Open Air Museum ECOMUSÉE -

Related background information Medieval cloth trade Water-power in north France Handmade and machine lace Textile industry Early canals Early coalmines Railways

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