Groupe scolaire Jean Macé, ancienne habitation du directeur des écoles et ancien patronage de la cité n° 12 de la compagnie des mines de Lens dite Saint-Edouard, situés parvis de l'église Saint-Edouard et grand chemin de Loos de part et d'autre de l'église Saint-Edouard

English translation

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History

At the end of the 19th century, following the increase in the number of pits exploited, the population grew from 3000 to 20000 inhabitants. The position of the new pit, set apart from the built-up area, obliged the company to plan the construction of a large number of dwellings. In 1896, an overall plan of the city was drawn up by Elie Reumaux. The same year saw the building of the engineer's house, the dwelling of the pit foreman and the erection of 204 houses with the girls' school, the sisters' dwelling, the boys' school, a rectory, a day nursery, a workroom, school gardens and functional dwellings for teaching staff. A provisional chapel was blessed in 1897. In 1899, a larger church was erected on the plans of Louis Croïn and Louis-Marie Cordonnier. The bombardments of the Great War destroyed most of the installations of the city, including the schools and the church. A provisional chapel was again installed, then the new church was erected in 1924 on Cordonnier's plans, at the same time as the schools. While the presbytery and the sisters' dwelling resume the same layouts and decoration but not the same materials, the wings of the schools are, on the other hand, increased by an additional storey. The ensemble formed by the church and its presbytery, the school group and the former dwellings of the director and the sisters, presents great coherence amid the rows of houses of the city.