The history of the Explor Wendel Park

In June 1856, the first lump of coal was mined in Petite-Rosselle from the Saint-Charles pit, two kilometres from what would become the “Wendel headquarters”, and later the Explor Wendel Park.

Several pits were then closed between 1862 and 1889: Wendel 1, Wendel 2, Vuillemin 1 and Vuillemin 2 (whose headframe is still visible at the site). In 1889, the Wendel headquarters were transferred to the control of the company “Les Petits-fils de François de Wendel et Cie”.

After 1960, the coal recession set in in France. However, operations and investments continued at the Wendel headquarters until 1986, when the headquarters ceased to operate.

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Vue aérienne du site des puits Wendel 3 - 2 et 1, des lavoirs 1-2 et 3 et du terril central (à droite). A l'arrière-plan, le site des puits Gargan.

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First lump of coal mined in Petite-Rosselle

In June 1856, the first lump of coal was mined in Petite-Rosselle from the Saint-Charles pit, two kilometres from what would become the “Wendel headquarters”, and later the Explor Wendel Park.

After this discovery, Emile Vuillemin, a consultant engineer with the “Compagnie anonyme des mines de Stiring”, founded by Charles de Wendel and Georges Hainguerlot, suggested carrying out further drilling to the south in order to develop the operation, which was limited to the north by the border.


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Vue aérienne du site du puits Wendel, avec les chevalements des puits 3 - 2 et 1 et les lavoirs. 1958

Closure of the first pits during the coal battle

Several pits were then closed between 1862 and 1889: Wendel 1, Wendel 2, Vuillemin 1 and Vuillemin 2 (whose headframe is still visible at the site). In 1889, the Wendel headquarters were transferred to the control of the company “Les Petits-fils de François de Wendel et Cie”.

After the Second World War, the Wendel headquarters had to take part in the coal battle by contributing to the three-fold increase of Lorraine’s production in less than 10 years. In 1946, the Wendel headquarters were integrated into the “Houillères du bassin de Lorraine”, a public company, as part of the nationalisation of all French coal mines.

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Vue aérienne du site du puits Wendel, avec les chevalements des puits 3 - 2 et 1 et les lavoirs. 1958

The development of the Wendel complex in the 1950s

The Wendel 3 pit was closed in 1952, and equipped in 1958 with the state-of-the-art washroom 3. Wendel Pits 1 and 2 were also modernised and equipped with new headframes.

After 1960, the coal recession set in in France. However, operations and investments continued at the Wendel headquarters until 1986, when the headquarters ceased to operate.

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The end of mining at the Wendel headquarters

Until 1989, part of the site’s infrastructure was still used to service the other pits of the Wendel concession that were still in operation. The Wendel 1 pit was closed in 1989, Wendel 2 in 1992 and Wendel 3 in 2001.

As for the headframe of the Vuillemin 2 pit, closed from 1884, still visible at the entrance to the site, it is the oldest preserved metal headframe in the former Lorraine coalfield.

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