La Gorgue
Commune
The Lawe river in La Gorgue
The Lawe river in La Gorgue
Coat of arms of La Gorgue
Coat of arms
Location of La Gorgue
Map
La Gorgue is located in France
La Gorgue
La Gorgue
La Gorgue is located in Hauts-de-France
La Gorgue
La Gorgue
Coordinates: 50°38′16″N 2°43′03″E / 50.6378°N 2.7175°E / 50.6378; 2.7175
CountryFrance
RegionHauts-de-France
DepartmentNord
ArrondissementDunkerque
CantonHazebrouck
IntercommunalityFlandre Lys
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Philippe Mahieu[1]
Area
1
15.03 km2 (5.80 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
5,599
 • Density370/km2 (960/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Gorguillons, Gorguillonnes
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
59268 /59253
Elevation12–19 m (39–62 ft)
(avg. 16 m or 52 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

La Gorgue (French pronunciation: [la ɡɔʁɡ]) is a town in northern France. It is a commune in the Nord department. The population of La Gorgue in 2019 was 5,639.[3]

It was the location of the Beaupré-sur-la-Lys Abbey, founded in 1221, whose grounds were used as a Royal Flying Corps base during World War I.

History

Beaupré-sur-la-Lys Abbey [fr] is in La Gorgue. The monastery was founded in 1221 by two lords of Béthune, one of whom, Robert, was a constable of King John. After joining the Cistercian Order some years later, Beaupré and its community of nearly 40 nuns continued to live undisturbed French Revolution in 1789, when it was dismantled.[4]

Later archaeological excavations revealed parts of the monastery, and much of this is now on exhibition in La Gorgue, including tombstones, decorated paving, coins and various archaeological artefacts.[4]

During World War I, Beaupré farmland was used by the Royal Air Force as an aerodrome and was home to many squadrons, including No. 16 squadron under Hugh Dowding and No. 8 (Naval) Squadron, which became No. 208 Squadron RAF.[4] From 12 May to 6 July 1917, No. 46 Squadron was based there.[5] From 19 August to 5 October 1917, No. 35 Squadron was based at La Gorgue.[6] Other squadrons based at La Gorgue at different times during the course of the war were No.5, No.15, No. 42 and No. 43.[7]

In September 2018, the town hosted an exhibition and a ceremony attended by family members of pilots who had served at the aerodrome during the Great War, organised by Serge Comini.[8]

La Gorgue is near the location of the Pont du Hem Military Cemetery.[9]

Location and governance

La Gorgue lies on to the south of the river Lys, straddling its tributary the Lawe. The town is located about 33 kilometres (21 mi) west of Lille by road.[10]

It is a commune in the Nord department, which lies within the region of Hauts-de-France, and the capital city of both the department and region is Lille. La Gorge lies within the arrondissement of Dunkerque, and the canton of Hazebrouck.[11]

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 4,104—    
1975 4,168+0.22%
1982 4,602+1.43%
1990 5,028+1.11%
1999 5,215+0.41%
2007 5,807+1.35%
2012 5,923+0.40%
2017 5,635−0.99%
Source: INSEE[12]

Heraldry

Arms of La Gorgue
Arms of La Gorgue
 The arms of La Gorgue are blazoned :
Azure semy of escallops Or, on a chief argent, a demi-lion issuant from the line of division sable.



See also

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Téléchargement du fichier d'ensemble des populations légales en 2019, INSEE
  4. ^ a b c "Beaupré-sur-la-Lys (Abbey)". European Charter of the Cistercian Abbeys and Sites. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. ^ "No 46 Squadron Heroes of La Gorgue". No 46 Squadron RFC and RAF. 12 May 1917. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  6. ^ "2018/05 Newsletter". No. 35 Squadron. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  7. ^ "La Gorgue". Anciens Aérodromes (in French). 7 March 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Commémoration et exposition avec ABESS". Ville de La Gorgue (in French). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  9. ^ CWGC. "Pont-Du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue | Cemetery Details". CWGC. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Lille to La Gorgue". Google Maps. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Commune de La Gorgue − COG". Insee (in French). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  12. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE

External links

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Communes of the Nord department
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