Leave nothing but footprints,
take nothing but pictures
Back to photo overviewFilature Nouvelle Orléans, Gent
Name: FNO, Gent
Builded in 1896
Abandoned since 1990
The 'Cotonniere Nouvelle Orléans' , a former cotton spinnery was build in 1896. In those times there was a huge prosperity in the textile industry in Gent. Also in this company. Between 1900 and 1950 there were 9000 workers.
In 1957 there was a fusion between 'Cotonniere Nouvelle Orléans' and 'De Waele & Röthlisberger'. The company started with the processing of synthetic fibers. This was a help during the bad time in the textile industries in that time.
Nevertheless in 1972 it was bought by UCO. This site got a separate place inside the UCO Group and at last became a division of 'UCO Maïsstraat'
In 1990 it was closed. All machines and workers were transferred to other factories from the UCO Group. The buildings were used for a short time by Barco.
The building are from the outside still quite beautiful. The time has done lots of demolishing. Ceiling and isolation came down. The buildings are protected so renovation is very difficult. The city of Gent wants to make new living units on this site. On another part of the site the fire department of Gent has his new base.
