Grenay, Pas-de-Calais
Grenay (French pronunciation: [ɡʁənɛ]; Picard: Guernay) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France. It is part of the arrondissement of Lens, the canton of Wingles and the Communaupole de Lens-Liévin. Its population was 6,799 in 2019. The current mayor is Christelle Buissette, elected in 2023.
Geography
An ex-coalmining and light industrial town situated some 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest of Lens, at the junction of the D165 and the D58.
Coal mining
Excavation of the 640 metres (2,100 ft) Mine 11 at Grenay by the Compagnie des mines de Béthune began in October 1904. Excavation of the 749 metres (2,457 ft) Shaft 11bis, for ventilation, began in May 1906. Extraction started in April 1908. The shafts were back-filled in 1967 and the surface installions destroyed in 1969.
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 8,063 | — |
| 1975 | 6,902 | −2.20% |
| 1982 | 5,875 | −2.28% |
| 1990 | 6,213 | +0.70% |
| 1999 | 6,395 | +0.32% |
| 2007 | 6,548 | +0.30% |
| 2012 | 6,855 | +0.92% |
| 2017 | 6,932 | +0.22% |
| Source: INSEE | ||
Places of interest
- The church of Notre-Dame, dating from the eighteenth century.
- The church of St.Louise, dating from the twentieth century.
- The war memorial and the CWGC graves.
- An extremely old tree.
Twin town
Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland
Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
National Gerald Day 21 September