Did you know that Luingne’s history is largely unknown even by its own inhabitants? We are standing in Luingne also known as Lowingen. It is a village with a unique past. Imagine legionnaires receiving these lands as payment. This happened after 25 years of service to Rome.
The most probable theory suggests a man named Liubwin. He may have given Luingne its name. The village is composed of two separate parts. Liubwin possibly extended his lands. A descendant may have married an heiress. She brought a fief located elsewhere. Liubwin then owned two separate domains. Thus, the Enclave of Luingne was formed.
In 1178 the Bishop of Tournai assigned the altars of Luingne and Herseaux. These went to the cathedral chapter of the episcopal city. Saint Martin Abbey of Tournai collected two-thirds of Luingne’s tithe.
Luingne might mean charcoal pit. It could be a place where wood coal is extracted. It is located entirely within the châtellenie of Courtrai. It followed the destiny of this area through various treaties.
The village’s configuration is not a single block. Its origin lies in feudal geography. An enclave without a common border is wedged between Mouscron and Herseaux. Two large farms are located there. These are the Haies farm and the fief held by Bernard de la Barre. He held it from the seigneury of Mouscron until the French Revolution. The bailiff of Mouscron was also in Luingne. The échevinale court of Mouscron included two inhabitants of Luingne. It had seven échevins. It extended its jurisdiction over the village.
Luingne’s geographical position determined its economic expansion. Dependent on Mouscron’s development the two merged. It also depended on the industry of Northern France. This agricultural commune had only one-third of its active population working there in 1947. One-third were cross-border workers. The last third worked in Mouscron.
In 1846 96% of the population spoke French. Flemish immigration caused by labor demands changed this. By 1947 only 68% of the population was French-speaking. Luingne was attached to Hainaut in 1963.
Luingne’s communal coat of arms is not official. It is identical to Aalbeke’s. Royal decree of January 29 1953 granted it. The lords in 1 and 4. Gules with a cavalier dressed in azure. Mounted on a galloping silver horse. Brandishing a high sword of the same is Basta. 2 and 3 of silver with a bar bristling with flames of gules is Moradin. Overall placed in abîme a silver shield. Three azure escutcheons each charged with a six-pointed star of gold is d’Ennetières. The shield is topped with a crown with three gold fleurons. Separated by three pearls placed in trefoil.
Saint-Amand Parish Church is attested in the 15th century. It stands where an 11th-century chapel used to be. This chapel depended on the church of Herseaux. It was demolished in 1848. A neo-Gothic building replaced it in 1848-1850.
Goemare Farm is a low brick quadrilateral dating back to the third quarter of the 18th century. It was largely rebuilt in later centuries.
Surrounded by water and trees Drumes Farm was built in the mid-18th century. It was remodeled in the 19th century and very recently. It is a semi-enclosed farm. It groups low brick buildings around an irregular courtyard. These are topped with tile roofs in coyaux.
Blanc Balot Farm is a quadrilateral dated 1827. It consists of low brick buildings under tile roofs in coyaux and gables in épi.
Haies Farm is an isolated quadrilateral farm dating back to the 18th century. It was almost entirely rebuilt in the following century.
Malcense Farm is a low brick quadrilateral. It is interesting mainly for the small 18th-century entrance body.
Partially surrounded by water Planque Farm is a loosely arranged complex. It has brick buildings dominated by a high main building. This dates from the end of the 16th century.
The church in Luingne has always been in the same place. A Romanesque building may have stood there before. A drawing from 1813 represents it. A condemnation for iconoclast destructions committed in the church of Luingne on August 24 1566 is known. This is thanks to a judgment in Courtrai. The wars of Louis XIV spared it. In 1676 a request was presented to repair it. During the French Revolution in 1794 a budget was established. It replaced the goods pillaged by the sans-culottes. In 1848-1850 the old church became unstable. It was also too small. It was decided to demolish it. Saint-Amand Church in neo-Gothic style replaced it. It cost 40129 francs. Its dimensions are 20 meters long 18 meters wide and 15 meters high. The bell tower rises to 42.80 meters.
Luingne is small but rich in history. From Roman settlements to feudal lords its story is unique. The village has overcome wars revolutions and linguistic shifts.