Long ago Saint-Maurice Pellevoisin was a simple faubourg of Fives. It lay outside Lille’s walls. It was on the road to Roubaix. That’s why it was called the Faubourg de Roubaix. Military reasons prevented sturdy construction near the ramparts. Vauban had redesigned them. Only timber-framed houses were allowed. They could be quickly demolished. The outer walls were covered in wooden planks. The inside had a wattle and daub coating. This provided good insulation. Some of these wooden houses still exist. They are near Euralille. Many have been clad in brick.
Saint-Maurice Pellevoisin changed in the second half of the 19th century. It experienced industrial and commercial growth. Several breweries opened. Le Coq Hardi opened in 1894. Brasserie Maes opened in 1860. Both were on Rue de la Louvière. Malting houses also sprang up. The clerical bourgeoisie built the Saint-Maurice-des-Champs church in 1853. They wanted a church closer than Notre Dame de Fives. In 1858 Fives became part of Lille. So did Moulins Wazemmes and Esquermes. Saint-Maurice-des-Champs remained outside the enlarged city walls.
For some wealthy Lillois Saint-Maurice Pellevoisin was a pleasant retreat. Country houses were built. One was the Château Droulers. The Becquerel a tributary of the Deûle flowed nearby. It rose near the priory of Fives. It entered Lille near the Porte de Tournai. The Becquerel’s banks were called “dosdasnes”. This gave its name to “les Dondaines”. A shantytown existed there from 1920 to 1973. Now it is the Parc des Dondaines.
Industrialization caused the streams to become open sewers. They were eventually covered to hide the smells. The Becquerel was filled in. Much of the area belonging to the Bonduelle-Lesaffre family was sold off. The Château Droulers was bequeathed to the city. Today it houses the district town hall. It is surrounded by a lovely park. This is a place for residents to stroll and relax. The Saint-Maurice water reservoir is a testament to the city’s growth. Its castle-inspired architecture was by Alfred Mongy. It was completed in 1886 on Rue de la Louvière.
Saint-Maurice Pellevoisin was beyond the ring road. It was outside the old city walls. It’s one of Lille’s extra muros districts. Military authorities forbade stone or brick construction near the ramparts. Wooden houses were permitted. They could be easily dismantled if the city was besieged. Some pre-1919 wooden houses remain. In 1879 a horse-drawn tram line served the area. It ran along Rue du Faubourg-de-Roubaix. It became steam-powered in 1888. It reached Roubaix via Mons-en-Baroeul and Wasquehal. It was electrified in 1903. The Lion d’Or tram depot was on Rue du Faubourg-de-Roubaix.
The early 20th century saw the rise of Pellevoisin. This is named after the Notre-Dame-de-Pellevoisin church. It was built in 1906. Many religious institutions followed. During World War II a Gestapo raid took place on June 4 1943. It followed an anonymous denunciation. 8000 people were rounded up. City archives show that 75% miraculously returned home. The mayor a Compagnon de la Libération used his friendship with Heinrich Himmler to negotiate their return.
The construction of Lille-Europe station Euralille and the Le Corbusier viaduct improved transport. The area is better linked to the city center. There’s been further expansion. Many office and residential buildings have risen near Lille Europe. Saint-Maurice Pellevoisin has a rich history. It blends old and new. It is a fascinating district.