Captured in a name Le Capreau whispers tales of transformation. Le Capreau is one of Wasquehal’s twelve districts. It wasn’t always the residential area we see today.
Imagine the late 19th century. Roubaix and Tourcoing were overcrowded. Workers sought refuge in the countryside and they settled here at the edge of Wasquehal. These workers dreamed of an independent community. Tensions arose between them and the established residents of Wasquehal’s center.
Now for the interesting bit. These newcomers were skilled at catching finches. They crafted traps. These traps were called “Capreau”. And so, the area became known as Le Capreau.
Le Capreau sits in northern France. It is a mere six kilometers from Mouscron in Belgium. It boasts easy access to five European capitals. This is thanks to a well-developed network of roads and public transport. Bus line 30 serves the area. There is also the Croix-L’Allumette SNCF train station.
The Roubaix canal flows through Le Capreau. The Marque River also passes through the area. The Blue Links project has reopened the canals for leisure boating.
The people of Le Capreau experienced hardships too. During World War I, France was occupied by Germany. Le Capreau was near the front lines. German soldiers used the area as a rest stop. Jean Lecrix a local resident died in the conflict.
In 1901 Mid-Careme a local group sang about the people of Le Capreau. They were called the “Boers of Le Capreau”. The song protested the construction of the Roubaix canal. Residents feared expropriation.
Over the years, Le Capreau has seen urban development. In 1877, the Roubaix canal opened passing through the area. In 1843, a railway connecting Lille to Brussels was built through Le Capreau.
In 1903, Turgot school opened its doors. It served residents of Le Capreau and surrounding areas. In 1904, a small parish was established. A church dedicated to Saint Clement was built in 1912.
In 1930, running water arrived. A water tower was built. “La Guinguette” was created. People could relax by the canal. A maternity ward opened in 1942 to accommodate Le Capreau’s growing population.
In the 1950s, a group of friends formed “Les Castors”. They worked together to build each other’s houses. Six of these houses still stand today on Rue Louis-Lejeune.
The name Le Capreau might suggest birds and traps. But Le Capreau’s story is really about community. Le Capreau residents adapted to industrialization, war and urban development. Le Capreau is still evolving today.