izegem

Izegem City of 19,500 inhabitants and 1,480 hectares, located in the southeast of West Flanders, in the center of the Mandel Valley; part of the industrial Mandelas at the Roeselare-Leie canal.
Flat landscape with predominantly loam, sandy loam, and clay soils. The territory is intersected by various watercourses, of which the Mandel, located in the north, is the most important; encased in 1979. The river played an important role in the economic development of Izegem during the Middle Ages. Other watercourses include the Pastoriebeek, where the bleach works were formerly located, the Lokbeek that forms the eastern border with Ingelmunster, flowing into the Mandel there, and the Kasteelbeek.
The Mandel forms the northern border with Emelgem and Kachtem; to the south, Izegem borders the municipalities of Ledegem and Lendelede. In the west, the A 17 motorway forms the boundary with Roeselare.
Administratively, Izegem belongs to the Roeselare-Tielt district and judicially to the Kortrijk district. It is the capital of the eponymous canton.
Izegem has a regional maintenance function: peace court, national police, education, fire department, hospitals, rest homes; the national brush museum and the national footwear museum.
New industrial zones, the so-called "Mandeldal," with the earliest buildings dating back to 1969, concentrated north of the canal around the Noordkaai and the Kachtemsestraat (Kachtem-Emelgem); western expansion in 1986. An artisanal zone, known as "Abeele," has been situated near the National Road N 36 and the A 17 motorway since 1970.
The southern part of Izegem has retained its rural character, with residential concentrations around the church hamlet of Bosmolens. Agriculture with an average farm size of 8.52 hectares, now with an emphasis on vegetable and fruit cultivation.
Neolithic finds (4400 BC - 1800 BC) indicate a very early human presence in the Mandel Valley and particularly in Izegem, including a significant discovery of a prehistoric site on the right bank of the Mandel in 1888-1889; hundreds of fragments of worked flint stones.
Circa 650: according to tradition, the Christianization of Izegem and surroundings by Saint Tillo. Construction of the first wooden church. 1112: the patronage rights of the church of Izegem are assigned by the bishop of Tournai to the Saint Martin's Abbey of Tournai.
Religiously, Izegem successively belonged to the diocese of Tournai, Ghent (1794), and Bruges (1834). Since 1953, Izegem has been the capital of its own deanery comprising Izegem, Ingelmunster, Lendelede, Sint-Eloois-Winkel, and Rollegem-Kapelle. Until 1907, the boundaries of the parish coincided with those of the city. In 1907, the Sacred Heart Parish was established, later followed by the Holy Family Parish (1941) and the Saint Raphael Parish (1963).
1066: oldest mention as "Isinchehem" in a charter in which Count Baldwin V donates six sheaves and six farms to the Saint Peter's chapter of Lille. The etymological meaning would amount to: dwelling of the people of Iso. Current spelling since around 1903.
During the ancien régime, the current territory was divided into several feudalities that fall under the fief court of Kortrijk or the hall of Ypres. The Hof van Izegem, the most important and largest feudal lordship, extends over thirteen parishes and has sixty-one vassals, fifteen of which are established in Izegem. The fief is located in the center of Izegem (between the Mandel, the Pastoriebeek, the Gentsestraat, and the Kruisstraat), see A. Sanderus (1641) referred to as "'t Old Castle" and in the land book of François Bal as "The Free Brewery" (also known as Baersthof), at the site of the former goods station.
A second important lordship is that of Wallemote, located in the south of Izegem, which has been owned since 1399 by purchase to the lords of Izegem.
The central farm was located in the current Wallemotestraat.
Also important is the lordship of Schiervelde, with the rental farm known as "Blauwhuis," which was converted into a villa in 1692 and later developed into the current "castle Blauwhuis."
Other important lordships include: the Hazelt, which encompasses a large part of present-day Emelgem and the northwest of Izegem, and is owned by the lords of Stavele. Mosscherambacht is located in the southwest of Izegem and has higher jurisdiction.
Notable are the fief of Steuren Ambacht and the lordship De Hazelt, which depend directly on the count of Flanders.
14th to 15th century: under the rule of Gwijde of Dampierre, count of Flanders, widening of the Mandel and raising the bridges in Izegem and Ingelmunster.
The Mandel plays an important role in the economic opening up of Izegem, which becomes an important center of linen industry. At the end of the 14th century, a thriving linen market and accompanying hall were established. 1452: destruction of the hall by the Ghent inhabitants in the context of a political-economic conflict between the city of Ghent and Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy; the hall is quickly rebuilt. 1488: expansion of the church.
16th century: Izegem has grown into a dominant trading center within the Mandel Valley. On November 17, 1525, a charter for a weekly linen market is granted to the lords of Izegem. 1531: several attempts by the city of Kortrijk to boycott the Izegem market. Roeselare also wants to establish a trade monopoly for flax yarn and linen through coercive measures.
1545-1546: primary supply center for the Ghent linen transit trade to the Antwerp world port. 1553: supply of Izegem's linen in Bruges to be shipped to Spain and, to a lesser extent, also to England. The Izegem ell is regarded as the standard West Flemish ell for linen. The so-called "Yseghem blaeukens" or "bocraen" are well-known, being blue-dyed linen. Four bleach works are known in Izegem, which are located among others along the Pastoriebeek.
Second half of the 16th century: the Izegem linen market slowly declines due to the tax reforms of the Duke of Alva, moreover the Mandel, vital for trade, slowly begins to silt up. 1571-1572: a joint project of Izegem and Roeselare to dig a canal is thwarted by Kortrijk, Ypres, Deinze, and Ghent. 1577: construction of a new linen hall. The Iconoclasts (1566), followed by the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648), further accelerates the decline of the Izegem economy. Numerous artisans, mainly weavers, leave Izegem to settle, among others, in Bruges and Kortrijk.
1582: the lordship of Izegem is raised to the countship by the Spanish King Philip II. 1589: marauding bands destroy the hall with surrounding houses and the convent of the grey sisters; the hall will not be restored (see A. Sanderus, 1641). 1592: the church is severely damaged during one of the many plundering events. 1595: plague epidemic.
17th century: the period of peace under the archdukes Albert and Isabella (1598-1621) leads to the restoration of the Sint-Tillokerk (1604-1617). 1610: return of the grey sisters, reconstruction of the convent.
Several attempts to restore the Izegem linen market fail partly due to the emigration of many merchants and weavers, and the economic boycott from neighboring cities, mainly Kortrijk: for instance, in 1609, the appeal from the count of Izegem to the archdukes to hold two three-day free fairs meets with strong resistance from Kortrijk. Nevertheless, Izegem remains an important linen center due to its specialization in fine linen production.
During the Franco-Spanish wars, Izegem is regularly occupied by French troops. 1668 - 1678: Izegem belongs to the French crown. 1678: Louis XIV elevates Izegem to the principality.
18th century: new prosperity starting from the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), during the Austrian rule. The linen weaving - primarily a home industry - is in full expansion.
On the one hand, increasing construction of mainly residential houses in the city center; on the other hand, a declining farm count.
1794: the French army's order for shoes announces the development of Izegem as an important center for the shoe industry. 1796: dissolution of the convent of the grey sisters. 1798: outbreak of the so-called "Farmers' War."
19th century: further decline in agricultural activities. Only 11% of the population is directly involved in agriculture. In the second half of the 19th century, the increasing importance of the flax industry: the rural areas are characterized by the growing number of flax sheds, supplying among others the linen weavers and flax spinneries in the center. Also, the development of chicory cultivation can be seen at the many fields near farms.
1801: construction of the first wool factory with yarn spinning (100 workers), commissioned by L. Berlamont; it disappears as early as 1827.
1817: Izegem receives the title of city; a linen market is re-established in the Inn "den Hert," (Gentsestraat, now demolished). Around 1827, the linen market is held on a piece of land of the former convent of the grey sisters (at the height of the current Baron de Pélichystraat, Borstelmuseum).
Around 1830, the linen market collapses, among others due to the decline of the French sales market and due to English competition, which provides cheaper, mechanically spun yarn. In the country, among other things, the distrust of the Belgian government delays the systematic implementation of the mechanical production process; nevertheless, several attempts are made to counter the crisis, through subsidies and good advice see the establishment of "Association nationale pour le progrès de l'industrie linière" (1838) and the creation of a market for hand yarn linen in 1858.
The mechanization initiated in the second half of the 19th century leads to a revival of the linen industry, among others influenced by P. Parmentier, the founder of mechanical linen industry in Izegem. 1839: first manufacturer weaving with mechanically spun yarn. 1864: transition to a completely mechanical weaving factory in Emelgem.
1856: first application for the installation of a steam engine by yarn producer B. Mistiaen-Depoortere.
Establishment of workshops that build steam engines: Dekeirsschieter started in 1859 as a blacksmith and from around 1875 specialized in manufacturing steam engines, and Paret-Messiaen has been operational since around 1899 in the Brugstraat and later in the Vaartstraat.
Until around 1840, the hat industry is also an important sector within the Izegem economy: during the Dutch period (1818-1830) it reaches the highest production in East and West Flanders.
Increasing significance of the shoe and brush industries in the industry in the second half of the 19th century, partly as a reaction to the recession in the linen industry. Establishment of many workshops that will grow in the first quarter of the 20th century into the largest and most important factories in Izegem: the brush factories De Ryckere, Werbrouck, VandeKerckhove, Gheysens, Demeester-Paret, and Bourez, and the shoe factories L' Eperon d'Or, Tanghe, Defauw, Bral-Donego, and Decoene.
The shoe industry remains mainly a home industry until the first quarter of the 20th century. 1830: Eduard Dierick receives a patent from William I for nailed shoes (previously stitched soles); he is considered the founder of the Izegem shoe industry. First model where the apprentices work together in a workshop instead of at home.
1840: shoemakers unite in a guild.
1860: start of mechanization in the shoe industry with the invention of the sewing machine (1829) and the machine sewing of soles.
1871: Ch. Goodyear develops the first machine to produce shoes entirely mechanically.
1876: invention of the welt machine by G. Kopeland.
1888: establishment of the first shoe factory (Nederweg), with a fully mechanical production process, by P. Decoene-Mortier. Leads to protest riots, causing the factory to close its doors.
1909: reopening of the factory; definitive breakthrough of mechanical shoe production. At the end of the 19th century, about 2,000 workers are employed in the shoe sector and account for a quarter of the total Belgian production.
The flourishing shoe industry also leads to the emergence of numerous ancillary industries including last factories and later the so-called "heel factories."
Brush industry. Evolved from the weaving industry, which needed specific brushes, so-called "reebrushes." Production consists of two separate processes, on the one hand, making brush wood, which from the third quarter of the 19th century occurs in factories, and on the other hand, so-called brush pulling, which involves assembling the hairs or fibers, which mostly happens at home.
Beginning of the 19th century: mainly small workshops, mostly family businesses with about three employees. Only the family business Deryckere grows into a factory with 80 to 100 workers; the entire production process occurs in the factory.
Around 1860: animal hair is gradually replaced by vegetable fibers (coco, tampico,...), allowing for a greater variety and lower cost, leading to mass production. Production is mainly aimed at the British market.
Breweries: mid-19th century, Izegem has about eight breweries, almost all of which disappear in the second half of the 19th century because they cannot compete with the industrially equipped breweries Carpentier (Gentsestraat), established in 1840, and Rosseel (Meensestraat) founded in the first half of the 19th century. From 1884, several new breweries are established.
1899: establishment of the oil mill Vandemoortele, at the newly constructed Roeselare-Leie canal; now grown into the main producer of table oils in Belgium.
The economic opening up is encouraged by infrastructure works: among others, the expansion of the road network, including the construction of the first stone road towards Ingelmunster (1811), the current Gentseheerweg, the cobblestone road to Roeselare (1840), the road to Menen via Sint-Eloois-Winkel (1874), to Ardooie via Emelgem (1874) and to Kortrijk via Lendelede (1890). Important for the brush industry is the construction of the railway line Bruges-Kortrijk (1847), in particular for transporting wood. 1862-1872: digging of the Roeselare-Leie canal.
Due to economic expansion, embedded workshops of small family businesses are integrated into the urban fabric. From around 1875, further urban expansions, including in the southeast with workers' houses along the still rural streets of Meense, Kortrijk, and Droge Jan.
From 1881, construction of the so-called "New Quarter," a residential area that includes the current Baron de Pélichy, Sint-Amands and Sint-Tillostraat and which is expanded around 1900 with the Dweersstraat.
Noteworthy is the increase in the number of so-called "field ovens," mainly near farms, which produce bricks for local use. In 1901, a ring kiln (Hofmann type) was built by the brickworks Vandeputte on Krekelstraat, which has been in operation since the mid-19th century.
The population increase leads to the establishment of several monastic communities, with an educational and caregiving function. 1806: establishment of the Sisters of Love who take over the educational function of the grey sisters. 1822: establishment of the convent of the Sisters of Charity, which has now grown into the Sint-Jozefskliniek. 1867: foundation of the Sint-Jozefscollege on Meensestraat (now Vanden Bogaerdelaan).
First quarter of the 19th century: until the First World War, industrialization continues, both in the shoe and brush industry, mainly thanks to the breakthrough of the steam engine.
Both brush and shoe production occurs completely mechanically in the large factories, starting from 1906 and 1909 respectively. Nevertheless, the smaller family businesses, which still work partially or even completely artisanally, continue to exist.
Associated with mechanization, is the emergence of constructor workshops specialized in manufacturing and developing brush machines, including the workshop of Cyriel Stove (1912) and shoe machines, among others the workshop of G. Handsaeme.
1909: some intermunicipal development by the construction of the tram line Ardooie-Izegem-Wevelgem.
First World War: during the First World War, Izegem lies in the German so-called "operation area," making the city primarily a care and supply function. Throughout the war, Izegem plays an important role in the reception of wounded from the combat zone. Various buildings serve as "Krieglazarette": the goods station, the hospital wards of the "old people's home," the convent of the French sisters, the convent of the Sisters of Mary, the Capuchin convent, the Sacred Heart school for girls and the Guild House.
Furthermore, the quartering of Germans in school buildings and factories is dismantled for this purpose; several Izegem brush manufacturers establish themselves in Ghent.
Due to the increasing number of soldiers, barracks are set up starting from 1917, including along the Vanden Bogaerdelaan and the Kortrijksestraat.
1917: construction of an airfield on the south side of the Roeselaarsestraat, which practically forms a whole with the airfield of Rumbeke.
The Germans improve the road infrastructure, including Nederweg and Prins Albertlaan, and expand the local railway network.
September 1918: during the liberation offensive, the so-called "Boomforeest" of the castle is destroyed by fire. Attempts by the Germans to expel the population from Izegem and plunder the houses are thwarted by

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