During the First World War Hulluch was the scene of intense fighting. The Battle of Hulluch from April 27th to 29th 1916 was horrific. Hundreds of British Irish and Scottish soldiers died. Many German soldiers also perished.
Hulluch is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department. It’s part of the Hauts-de-France region. The village is about 4 miles north of Lens. It’s located on what was once the route of the RN 47 now the RD 947. The modern road bypasses Hulluch.
Hulluch has a rich history stretching back to at least 1070. Early records show the village’s name spelled in various ways. By the 15th century it was consistently spelled Hulluch. The name may derive from a Germanic name Ursus combined with the Latin word lucus meaning sacred grove.
Over the centuries Hulluch has endured many hardships. In the Middle Ages it was repeatedly attacked by French and Flemish armies. The village and its castle were burned by the Flemings in 1303 and 1304. During the 16th century it was occupied by Spanish and French forces. It suffered extensive damage in 1647.
Hulluch was also significantly impacted by coal mining. Mine shaft 13 began operation in 1906. It later became a service shaft for mine 18. Both mines closed in 1976. The headframe of shaft 13 was demolished in 1983. A catastrophic roof collapse in 1962 resulted in the death of six miners.
After World War I Hulluch was designated a red zone. Unexploded ordnance is still periodically discovered. The village was classified as destroyed at the war’s end. It received the Croix de Guerre 1914-1918.
Today Hulluch is a town with a modern feel. There is a new multisport hall and a new health center. The town also boasts a lasting tie to Inverness Scotland. There is a town square named Place d’Inverness to commemorate this connection. While many older buildings were lost in war Hulluch still holds some interesting examples of regional architecture. You can still find old brick and tile farmhouses and some former miner’s houses known as corons which survived the destruction. In some gardens blockhouses remain as silent reminders of the First World War. The church of Saint Laurent and the war memorial are important landmarks. Hulluch a town rebuilt yet bearing witness to its fascinating and challenging past.