Local history and culture Nord-Pas-de-Calais

The place is ideal: Fort Risban is originally a fortified island erected to lock the port of Calais and to prevent any attack from the enemy. It was taken over by the English in the 14th century who built the Lancaster tower still visible today in the munitions ware house. Then the French won against the Spanish here in the 16th century and the Germans made this place a link of the Atlantic wall during the Second World War. The walls of the fort have recently been renovated and are an outpost of the history of the engagements and invasions that shook the city.

This building opened on September 25, 1903, thanks to San Rainbeaux, director of the Marles Mining Company. At the end of the th century and in the early years of the xxth century, social movements created awareness of public services on the conditions of the mining corporation. In particular, companies were imposed on the institution of care, retirement or assistance structures for minors and their families. At Auchel, San Rainbeaux decided to undertake the construction of a hospital to meet the general requirements, to which he added a clinic for consultation with infants. At that time, maternity wards did not exist: women give birth in their homes, under precarious hygiene conditions and without any medical follow-up. The purpose of the Drop of milk was to provide mothers with a care centre where children were auscultés. It also provided milk to mothers who needed it.