Lillers
Lillers is a commune. It is found in the region Nord-Pas-de-Calais in the Pas-de-Calais department in the north of France.
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Lillers | |
_mairie.JPG)
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| The town hall of Lillers | |
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| Administration | |
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| Country | France |
| Region | Nord-Pas-de-Calais |
| Department | Pas-de-Calais |
| Arrondissement | Béthune |
| Canton | Lillers |
| Intercommunality | CA Béthune-Bruay, Artois-Lys Romane |
| Mayor | Pascal Barois (2014–2020) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 18–88 m (59–289 ft) (avg. 29 m/95 ft) |
| Land area1 | 26.9 km2 (10.4 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 10,050 (2010) |
| - Density | 374/km2 (970/sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 62516/ 62190 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
History
In the year 700 AD, two Irish princes, Lugli and Luglien, were on a pilgrimage to Rome. On the road between Boulogne and Thérouanne, near Ferfay, they were attacked and killed by robbers. Their servants buried the bodies, but they were moved by a storm to the castle of the Bishop of Thérouanne. This was seen to be a miracle. When the Normans invaded, the bodies, now holy relics, were moved to a safer place on an island with a marsh all around it. Years later, the sister of the princes, Lilia, came to pray at the chapel built to hold the relics. The town was named Lillers, after her.[1]
World War 1
In World War I, Lillers was the site of a big British military hospital. Nearly 900 soldiers are buried in the cemetery.[2] They include two winners of the Victoria Cross, Corporal William Richard Cotter and Major David Nelson.[3]
Related pages
References
- ↑ "History Lillers". Site Officiel de la Ville de Lillers (in français). Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ↑ "Lillers Cemetery". Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ↑ "Lillers Communal Cemetery and Extension". Archived from the original on 2009-04-14. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
Other websites
- Official commune website
- Lillers on the Quid website (in French)
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