Établissements Agache

Établissements Agache was a French textile company founded in 1824 in Lille by Donat Agache as a simple linen trading business. Over the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries it grew into one of the largest linen and cotton spinning operations in northern France. The firm was associated with the Droulers family before being passed to the sons of Agache, and it established lasting production sites at Pérenchies and La Madeleine. In 1913, André and Claude Saint-Léger joined as administrators after selling their own spinning mill to the company. The First World War almost completely destroyed the factories, but reconstruction was carried out energetically, notably through the efforts of Marguerite Saint-Léger, who played a central role in the revival of Pérenchies. By 1928, Société Agache Fils operated six production sites, employed nearly 5,000 workers, ran more than 90,000 spindles, and included several weaving mills. Its sites included Pérenchies (linen spinning and weaving, the historic headquarters), La Madeleine (Berkem) for linen and cotton spinning, Seclin for spinning, Armentières for weaving, Pont-de-Nieppe for bleaching and finishing, and Origgio near Milan, Italy, for hemp spinning under the name Société Lombarda Lino e Canapa. The company was noted as much for its industrial power as for its social works, including workers' housing, a nursery, a retirement home, and domestic science institutes. The Agache factories closed definitively in 1990.

Établissements Agache was founded in 1824 in Lille by Donat Agache as a simple linen trading business. Over the following decades, it progressively became one of the largest linen and cotton spinning companies in northern France. The firm was associated with the Droulers family before being transmitted to the sons of Agache, and it established itself permanently at Pérenchies and La Madeleine. In 1913, André and Claude Saint-Léger joined as administrators after selling their own spinning mill to the company. The First World War of 1914–1918 almost completely destroyed the factories, but reconstruction was carried out with energy, notably thanks to Marguerite Saint-Léger, who played a central role in the revival of Pérenchies. By 1928, Société Agache Fils operated six production sites, employed nearly 5,000 workers, ran more than 90,000 spindles, and included several weaving mills. Its sites were: Pérenchies — linen spinning and weaving (historic headquarters); La Madeleine (Berkem) — linen and cotton spinning; Seclin — spinning; Armentières — weaving; Pont-de-Nieppe — bleaching and finishing; and Origgio (Milan, Italy) — hemp spinning under Société Lombarda Lino e Canapa. The company was distinguished as much by its industrial power as by its social works, including workers' housing, a nursery, a retirement home, and domestic science institutes. The Agache factories closed definitively in 1990.

• 1990

  Agache factories close definitively.

• 1928

  Société Agache Fils operates 6 production sites, employs nearly 5,000 workers, and runs over 90,000 spindles.

• 1914

  First World War begins; factories are almost completely destroyed.

• 1913

  André and Claude Saint-Léger join as administrators after selling their spinning mill to the company.

• 1824

  Founded in Lille by Donat Agache as a linen trading business.

One of the largest linen and cotton spinning companies in northern France, known for industrial scale and extensive social welfare programs for workers.

• Linen yarn

• Cotton yarn

• Woven fabrics

• Hemp yarn

• Bleached and finished textiles

1. 1Établissements Agache — Généalogie famille Saint-Légersaintleger.org
2. 2Établissements Agache — Wikidatawikidata.org