Musée de la mine et des traditions populaires d'Escaudain

Useful Information

Location:	10 Rue Paul Bert, 59124 Escaudain. (50.332962, 3.344324)
Open:	All year 2nd Sat 14-18, 3rd Sun 10-12. European Heritage Days Sat 14-18, Sun 10-12, 14-18. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Mining Museum Cobalt Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	Ar=300 m².
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Musée de la mine et des traditions populaires d'Escaudain, 10 Rue Paul Bert, 59124 Escaudain, Tel: +33-327-44-07-04. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

28-JUL-1934	the mining accident at the Fosse Saint-Mark caused the death of two Polish miners, Wladislaw Kosick and François Zybeck.
1970	association Les amis du musée (Friends of the Museum) created.
1978	museum inaugurated, André Lebon is first curator.

Geology

Escaudain lies at the eastern end of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais coalfield.

Description

The Musée de la mine et des traditions populaires d'Escaudain (Mining and Popular Traditions Museum) was created by André Lebon who was its curator until 2003. It is located in the former town hall of Escaudain with an exhibition area of 300 m². The collections include models, costumes and archives, all linked to local life, including the mining history of the area. There are documents, paintings, and photographs, tools and machinery. One exhibition shows a selection of clothing illustrating the evolution of fashion from 1900 to 1950. The museum uses the former town hall, the ground floor is mainly devoted to mining and the steel industry, the upper floor is devoted to daily life, traditions, and trading. In other words it is a local history museum, where mining is a big part of this history.

The mining related exhibition in the ground floor includes numerous wooden models of mines and mining machinery. It is dedicated to the history of coal mining in Escaudain and the related industry. There is a collection of mine lamps, and numerous paintings and artworks created by miners. The exhibits include tools, machinery and safety equipment. And finally, there are documents and photographs telling the stories about their lives and experiences. There is also a collection of fossils from the coal and the surrounding sedimentary rocks.