Usine élévatoire de Saint-André

English translation

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History

The development of industry resulted in, in the middle of the 19th century, a third phase of canal construction, in Burgundy, Languedoc, Nivernais, and in the North, where this network is particularly dense. The construction of the Saint-André pumping station in Lille marks the completion of the Roubaix canal, begun in 1826 and intended for the supply of the Roubaix and Tourcoing factories, and for exchanges with northern Europe. The station, built in 1876 by the engineers of the Voies Navigables, on the land of the former fortifications at the edge of the Vieux-Lille district, is particularly remarkable for the quality of the architectural treatment of the volumes and façades, which evoke Romanesque architecture, and its internal cast iron structure. In 1896-1902, the wings were enlarged and modified, new machinery and an underground spillway were put in place. In the 20th century, the steam engines were replaced by electric pumps. The whole consists of: central quadrangular building (of 19.37 x 15 metres), with two levels of elevation in brick and concrete (machine room and beam gallery); interior structure in cast iron with columns with bases and capitals, beams, curved knees, spiral staircase and floor of the beam gallery, and moulded piles in blue stone; façade dated 1876 with two levels of three round-arched openings, a frieze of arcading at the top of the gable wall and sculpted cartouche at the summit (anchors and trident); lateral walls with five identical round-arch windows; roof with double lean-to placed directly at the top of the guttered walls; two symmetrical wings, of quadrangular plan, with a single elevated level on a basement; blind gable, lateral windows and door: right wing, 1876: office, dwelling, coal store, forge, materials; currently, workers' rest room and warehouse; left wing: Farcot boiler; currently, electric pump, garages and archives room (entirely covered with white ceramic tiles, glazed); underground in U shape and spillway, under the central building (access from the ground floor of the left wing).