Might you sense echoes of lives lived as you approach the Cimetière du Plomeux? This is no ordinary burial ground. It is a tapestry woven from threads of local history, wartime sacrifice, and the quiet beauty of nature.
The Cimetière du Plomeux serves as Wasquehal’s principal cemetery since 1951. It was built to relieve the overcrowded Cimetière du Centre. Before its creation, this land was part of the fief of Plomeux. Its origins are lost to time. Around 1733, the fief belonged to Charles de Rohan-Soubise. He owned the seigneury of Wasquehal-la Marque. Later, part of the land belonged to the Filature du Nord and the de Baynast de Septfontaines family.
In 1921, plans arose to acquire land for a new cemetery. The Cimetière du Centre was running out of space. Negotiations with the Filature du Nord to purchase land were complex. Financial difficulties and wartime events delayed the project for years. Finally, in 1949, the municipality acquired the necessary land. This acquisition cost 4,810,000 francs for the Filature du Nord. It also cost 225,000 francs for Anital Français. Omer Dehaudt received 600,000 francs for compensation. The total cost including development was 8 to 10 million francs.
Construction of the Cimetière du Plomeux began in 1950. By All Saints’ Day, it was ready. The first burial took place in 1951. Alfred Gardon was the first to be interred, followed by Zoé Vanoverbeke.
In 1966, under Mayor Victor Honoré, a military square was created. Gérard Étienne, a stonemason, carried out the work. Military concessions from the Cimetière du Centre were moved here. The military square at the Cimetière du Plomeux was inaugurated by Deputy Mayor Pierre Herman.
The Cimetière du Plomeux expanded in 1975. The municipality bought land cultivated by Gérard Dehaudt. This land belonged to Jean Georges Louis de Baynast de Septfontaines. This purchase created the second part of the Cimetière du Plomeux.
Inside the Cimetière du Plomeux, a calvary stands. Parishioners from Saint-Nicolas and Saint-Clément churches built it in 1953. The commune provided the land. André Gernez later donated funds for its restoration.
The Cimetière du Plomeux also became a repository of history in another way. During excavations in 1992, workers unearthed 700 tombs. These tombs dated from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. Among them were children’s graves. These graves contained toys and religious medals. The remains were reinterred in the Cimetière du Plomeux’s ossuary.
Today, the Cimetière du Plomeux spans 4 hectares. It serves as one of the city’s largest green spaces. Birches, lindens, and weeping willows abound here. Maples, forsythias, and cherry laurels add to the diverse flora. The cemetery is also home to various fauna. Birds like parakeets and starlings frequent the grounds.
The Cimetière du Plomeux reflects the evolving relationship between religion and burial practices. While early decrees mandated separate spaces for different faiths, modern laws promote inclusivity. The Cimetière du Plomeux features a Muslim square reflecting this change.
The cemetery includes a military square. Soldiers and civilian victims of war are interred here. The grave of William Johnson, a British artilleryman who died during the Phony War, is located here. A stele commemorates Wasquehal residents who died for France.
The Cimetière du Plomeux is more than just a final resting place. It stands as a green sanctuary. It offers a peaceful refuge for reflection and remembrance amidst the bustle of modern life.