Carvin
Encyclopedia
This article refers to a French commune. For the guitar manufacturer see Carvin Corporation. For the late New Orleans political consultant see Jim Carvin
.
Carvin is a commune
in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France
.
An ex-coalmining commune, now a light industrial and farming town, situated some 14 miles (22.5 km) northeast of Lens
, completely encircled by the N17 and D919 ring road.
times. This settlement is linked to the existence of the vast wet depression around the now-disappeared castle of Epinoy.
In the early 12th century, the hamlet of Épinoy, now the east part of the commune, was the home of the hermit
Saint Druon of Sebourg.
The history of this market town, located on the road between Arras
Lille
and Tournai
, was then marked by coalmining, starting in the mid-nineteenth century and ending in 1975. One of the smaller mining companies had its headquarters in Carvin. At nationalization, the pits and mining facilities were consolidated within the Oignies
group.
During World War I
, from October 1914 to October 1918, Carvin was occupied by the Germans. Located at the rear of the front as a garrison town for both German military and civilians. The bodies of over 6,000 soldiers are laid to rest in one of the largest German cemeteries in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region.
Carvin was awarded the Croix de Guerre
on September 28, 1920.
In May 1940, during the German
invasion of France, Carvin’s town centre was the scene of a major battle that allowed the bulk of British and French troops to get to Dunkirk and freedom. Once the allies had gone, the troops of the Wehrmacht
delivered fierce reprisals on the population of the towns of mining pit 4: Carvin, Courrières
and Oignies
. Following the miners' strike in May and June 1941 which spread throughout the Nord-Pas-de-Calais, many miners (mostly communists) were arrested and executed at Arras
.
In 1947, Carvin lost nearly a third of its territory with the separation of the commune of Libercourt
, which claimed its independence.
The town lost much of its industry during the years 1970 to 1990. Mining, construction and engineering were all reduced in size. Much of the railway network was dismantled in the early 1990s. Today it is mostly a services and residential commune for the regional capital, Lille
.
Jim Carvin
Jim Carvin was a New Orleans political consultant with a sustained record of supporting winners in New Orleans mayoral elections. Using a wheelchair later in life, Carvin was eulogized as a "winner to the end" in the Times-Picayune by James Gill.-References:...
.
Carvin is a commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Geography
Lens, Pas-de-Calais
Lens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...
, completely encircled by the N17 and D919 ring road.
History
Major excavations have recently revealed occupation going back to NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
times. This settlement is linked to the existence of the vast wet depression around the now-disappeared castle of Epinoy.
In the early 12th century, the hamlet of Épinoy, now the east part of the commune, was the home of the hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
Saint Druon of Sebourg.
The history of this market town, located on the road between Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
and Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
, was then marked by coalmining, starting in the mid-nineteenth century and ending in 1975. One of the smaller mining companies had its headquarters in Carvin. At nationalization, the pits and mining facilities were consolidated within the Oignies
Oignies
Oignies is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Oignies is a former coalmining town, nowadays a light industrial town, northeast of Lens, at the junction of the D46 and the D160 roads...
group.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, from October 1914 to October 1918, Carvin was occupied by the Germans. Located at the rear of the front as a garrison town for both German military and civilians. The bodies of over 6,000 soldiers are laid to rest in one of the largest German cemeteries in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region.
Carvin was awarded the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
on September 28, 1920.
In May 1940, during the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
invasion of France, Carvin’s town centre was the scene of a major battle that allowed the bulk of British and French troops to get to Dunkirk and freedom. Once the allies had gone, the troops of the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
delivered fierce reprisals on the population of the towns of mining pit 4: Carvin, Courrières
Courrières
Courrières is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:An ex-coalmining commune, now a light industrial and farming town, situated some northeast of Lens, at the junction of the D46 and D919 roads and next to the A1 autoroute...
and Oignies
Oignies
Oignies is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Oignies is a former coalmining town, nowadays a light industrial town, northeast of Lens, at the junction of the D46 and the D160 roads...
. Following the miners' strike in May and June 1941 which spread throughout the Nord-Pas-de-Calais, many miners (mostly communists) were arrested and executed at Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
.
In 1947, Carvin lost nearly a third of its territory with the separation of the commune of Libercourt
Libercourt
Libercourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:An ex-coalmining town, now farming town with some light industry, surrounded by woods and lakes, situated some northeast of Lens, at the junction of the D954 and the D46 roads, with...
, which claimed its independence.
The town lost much of its industry during the years 1970 to 1990. Mining, construction and engineering were all reduced in size. Much of the railway network was dismantled in the early 1990s. Today it is mostly a services and residential commune for the regional capital, Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
.
Population
Places of interest
- The church of St.Martin, dating from the eighteenth century.
- Two nineteenth century churches, of St.Druon and St.Barbe.
- The Commonwealth War Graves CommissionCommonwealth War Graves CommissionThe Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
cemetery.
Notable people
- Jacques Secrétin, international table tennisTable tennisTable tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
player, was born in Carvin in 1949.