The imposing 66-meter-high extraction tower of the Ancien site minier de la fosse 11-19 pierces the sky. This is more than just a structure. It’s a monument to the heart of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Mining Basin a place where history breathes.
The Ancien site minier de la fosse 11-19 de la Compagnie des Mines de Lens in Loos-en-Gohelle holds a significant place in the history of coal mining in France. This site once comprised two shafts number 11 and number 19. Shaft 11 started its operation in 1891 or 1893. Later in 1954 shaft 19 joined the operation.
Initially developed by the Compagnie des mines de Lens the mine became a hub. Other mines such as numbers 2-2 bis 3-3 bis 4 and 9 were concentrated here. By 1973 even the number 7-7 bis mine joined this major site. The production of all these mines was then channeled through the two shafts 11 and 19. This concentration process made the three nearby slag heaps 74 74A and 74B crucial elements of the operation.
The mine operated until its closure in 1986. The shafts were filled in 1987. The same year the church of Saint-Pierre was unfortunately demolished. However the main installations of the Ancien site minier de la fosse 11-19 were preserved and renovated.
In the early 21st century Charbonnages de France restored the headframes of shafts 11 and 19. The slag heaps and the surrounding housing areas have also been largely restored. The Ancien site minier de la fosse 11-19 stands now as one of the four major preserved sites of the mining basin.
Today you see a place that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2012. It showcases the evolution of coal mining techniques and the lives of the miners who toiled here. The Ancien site minier de la fosse 11-19 is not merely a ruin. It is a living testament to a significant chapter in industrial history. A powerful reminder of the human cost and the industrial achievements within the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Mining Basin.