Didn’t this street get its name from a Belgian town? Today we are standing on Rue de Péruwelz. It is easy to miss this street. But its name echoes a fascinating story.
Rue de Péruwelz likely gets its name from the town of Péruwelz. Péruwelz is a city and municipality of Wallonia. It is located in the province of Hainaut Belgium. Péruwelz is near France. Condé-sur-l’Escaut Vieux Condé and Hergnies are nearby. The forest of Bon-Secours is also close.
The town of Péruwelz has an interesting history. Its creation is linked to a ford. This ford was situated on the Verne de Basècles. It was along the ancient Gand-Valenciennes road. The earliest mention of Péruwelz dates back to 1095. A settlement developed there and a castle was built. The seigneury of Péruwelz was one of the 44 baronies of Hainaut.
Around 1650 textile merchants settled in Péruwelz. They came from nearby villages. These villages included Wiers Audemetz Bury and Roucourt. In a few decades the town transformed. By the end of the Ancien Régime Péruwelz had about 5000 inhabitants. There were around twenty hosiery factories. In the early 19th century a bourgeoisie emerged. This class was linked to manufacturing and trade. They displayed their social ascent through their homes. Some of these homes are still visible on the Grand-Place.
From 1794 to 1814 Péruwelz was led by a political power. This power was close to revolutionary ideas. Despite the unrest the economy thrived. Péruwelz became one of the most important communes. It was significant in Hainaut and Belgium. This allowed it to gain the title of “Ville” in 1816.
During the 19th century the population grew. Urbanization gained ground. Soon the city was served by the Pommeroeul canal to Antoing. This was inaugurated in 1829. The railway followed in 1869. The wool industry was still present. There was an increase in leather-related factories. These included tanneries taweries shoe factories and cordwaineries. There were also sugar factories foundries bolt factories sawmills and printing works. Around 1900 other sectors manufactured goods. These included celluloid objects and chemical products.
The post-World War II period was fatal. It was fatal for the industries of Péruwelz. Lack of investment in existing tools caused problems. Above all a lack of innovation led to closures. For about twenty years most production activities have been consolidated. They are in the Hurtrie industrial park. With the merger of the communes in 1976 Péruwelz became the administrative center.
The town of Péruwelz is also known for its fountains. Péruwelz has several natural springs. The Dubuisson-Copin’s washing-place fountain is in the communal gardens. These gardens were created in 1912. The Jaunay-Clan fountain is made of stones from Jaunay-Clan. Jaunay-Clan is twinned with Péruwelz. The Du Maréchal fountain was named after its restoration in 1887. Some springs are not safe to drink from. Tests are performed every day.
So as you walk along Rue de Péruwelz remember its namesake. It is a Belgian town with a rich history. It is a history of industry revolution and natural springs. This small street connects Paris to Wallonia. It links us to a story far beyond the city limits.