Site du lavoir des Chavannes (également sur commune de Saint-Vallier)

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

The Chavannes washery was built from 1923 for the Houillères de Blanzy, according to plans by the engineers of the Considère, Pelnard-Caquot et Cie firm. Composed of 8 treatment lines that came into service between 1927 and 1930, the washery was then one of the most powerful mineral product treatment plants in Europe, with a capacity of 1000 tonnes/hour. The treatment lines, completely re-equipped between 1947 and 1955, and reduced to 7, were automated between 1989 and 1994. This washery is located at the heart of an electrified standard-gauge railway network created in 1927 enabling supply of raw coal from various extraction pits and dispatch of treated coal via the PLM network (later SNCF). This private electrified network - still partially in service in 2000 - is the only one of its type still preserved in France. This dispatch system is supplemented by a railway and inland waterway port. This coal washery, shut down since November 1999, is a homogeneous, complete ensemble, certainly unique in Europe. The washery comprises a reinforced concrete load-bearing structure enclosed in a timber-frame structure with brick infill; the whole is covered with sheds, except for the central bays raised around 1950. The sub-station features timber framing, brick infill and is covered with sheds. The offices and showers (1931) are in dressed rubble stone and include the very last "hanged man's room" of the mining basin.