Caudry

Coat of arms

Caudry

Location within Hauts-de-France region

Caudry

Coordinates: 50°07′33″N 3°24′45″E / 50.1258°N 3.4125°ECoordinates: 50°07′33″N 3°24′45″E / 50.1258°N 3.4125°E

Country

Caudrésis–Catésis

Government

• Mayor (1995–2008)

Guy Bricout

Area¹

12.94 km² (5.00 sq mi)

Population (1999)²

13,469

• Density

1,000/km² (2,700/sq mi)

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

• Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

INSEE/Postal code

59139 /59540

Elevation

103–138 m (338–453 ft)

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

²Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Caudry is a commune of the Nord department in northern France.

In the Middle Ages, as tradition will have it, Maxellende, a daughter of the lord of Caudry, was stabbed to death by one Harduin d'Amerval on 13 November 670 after turning him down. Following this Harduin became blind. However it is said that he recovered his sight as his victim's body was carried past him during its translation. Since then Maxellende has been the patron saint of Caudry and of the blind or partially sighted.

In the 19th century Caudry started specializing in tulle and lace making.

The first loom was installed in 1826 with parts smuggled from England. By 1913 there were some 650 looms employing several thousand workers. The population expanded from 1,926 in 1804 to 13,360 in 1911.

Today Caudry remains, with Calais, the only town in France where lace is still made. A lace museum has been opened in a former workshop in the town centre.

Caudry is twinned with:

...
Wikipedia