|
||||||
 |
||||||
 |
CHARLEROI : An old industrial center | |||||
|
GENERAL Charleroi (Home) Info on Belgium SIGHTSEEING Charleroi : an old industrial center
|
 |
The importance of Charleroi as an industrial center became obvious when in the beginning of the 19th century a canal was built between Brussels and Charleroi. Via this canal the industrial production of the black country could be transported via the capital to the harbor of Antwerp and other parts of the country. The industrial produce was based on three pillars: iron, glass and coal. Already in the late Middle-Ages this production existed, albeit on a pre-industrial scale. Both the iron industry and, later (as from 1669), also the glass factories profited from the presence of coal-mines in the Charleroi area. IRON
GLASS
COAL
These financiers provided the necessary funds for the technological development of the industry. Coal mining in Charleroi reaches its height of production between 1901-1910. After the Second World War numerous Italian immigrant workers move to Charleroi in the hope of finding a better life, which they initially do. However, the international competition is such that the Belgian state has to subsidize the exploitation of the coal-mines to such a degree that the survival of this industry becomes impossible. In 1984 the last coal-mine in the area was closed. One of the coal-mines is forever engraved in the Belgian national memory : in 1956 a fire killed 262 workers (mostly of Italian origin) in the mine of Bois du Cazier. After the closing of the coal-mines and the crisis in the iron and glass industry, new industrial development zones were created on the abandoned factory and coal-pit grounds. Museum of Industry
: |
||||
|
© All texts and pictures Copyright
Trabel.com and
Arakea.com. |
||||||
|
|
||||||
Until
the 19th century metallurgic ovens were fueled with charcoal. However, in
the England of the late 18th century new production methods were invented,
such as ovens and steam-machines fueled by pit coal. Therefore, areas where
coal-mines could be found started to introduce these new production methods.
The iron industry in the Charleroi area started to boom at the beginning of
the industrial era in 1827 when the first coke-fueled oven was opened there.
One of the most important iron factories became the 'Forges de la
Providence' in the suburb of Marchienne-au-Pont. (1832). At the end of the
19th century new ovens were built for the new production of steel. Because
of the continuous pressure for modernization in a competitive international
environment a lot of iron and steel factories were continuously created,
abolished, regrouped and fusioned. Since 1981 most of the remaining
factories belong to the Cockerill Sambre group.
Glass
production is very coal-consuming. Charleroi was, therefore, an almost
natural area for the development of the glass industry. Around the middle of
the 18th century the existing glass factories attracted German glass blowers
who introduced new techniques. The original production of vases and bottles
gradually changed in a plated glass production, most of which was exported.
The same evolution takes place in this industrial sector as in the iron
industry: in the 20th century the different glass factories are grouped into
cartels (Glaverbel, Verlipack, etc.) that still own production plants in the
Charleroi area.
Most
Belgians consider this the typical industry of Charleroi. The area is part
of the European coal layer that stretches from Wales to the German
Ruhrgebiet. The first traces of coal extraction can be found in the 13th
century; The people of the area exploited the coal-layers which lay on the
surface and which could be worked in the open air. Going deeper was
problematic because of the infiltrating ground water. Because of the growing
demand for coal to fuel the glass and iron factories new techniques are
introduced such
as
the Newcomen steam pump which was used for the extraction of the ground
water. At the beginning small coal-mining companies are founded which as
from 1830 (boom of the metallurgic industry) are more and more controlled by
powerful financial groups. 