Douvrin


Douvrin is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.

Geography

An ex-coalmining town some east of Béthune and southwest of Lille, at the junction of the D165, the D163 and the N47 roads. Since the mid-1960s, farming and light industry have replaced coal mining as the principle occupations.

History

First recorded in the eleventh century, the town has been known by several variations of the name:
Doverin, Dovring, Dovrin, Dovrign, Douvringnum, Douvrin and also as Douvrain.
The town suffered considerable damage during World War I.
Coal mining was the main livelihood here for around 100 years, from the mid-nineteenth century until the 1960s when the reserves became uneconomic.
Since 1969, Française de Mécanique, part of PSA Peugeot Citroen has produced motor-car engines at the plant immediately north of the commune. Over 3,400 people work here, producing 7000 units a week.

Population

Places of interest