Esquelbecq
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name = Esquelbecq
|native name = Ekelsbeke
|commune status = Commune
|image = Esquelbecq Eglise R06.jpg
|caption = St Folcwin church in Esquelbecq
|image coat of arms = Blason de la ville de Esquelbecq 2 (59) Nord-France.svg
|arrondissement = Dunkirk
|canton = Wormhout
|INSEE = 59210
|postal code = 59470
|term = 2020–2026
|intercommunality = CC Hauts de Flandre
|coordinates = {{coord|50.8864|2.4319|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m = 21
|elevation min m = 11
|elevation max m = 29
|area km2 = 12.7
|population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}
Esquelbecq ({{IPA|fr|ɛskɛlbɛk}}; from {{Langx|vls|Ekelsbeke}}) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.[https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/59210-esquelbecq INSEE commune file]
Its southern limit with Ledringhem is chemin de Rubrouck.
Population
{{Historical populations
|source = INSEE[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-59210#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
|percentages = pagr
|align = none
|1968 |1559
|1975 |1592
|1982 |1907
|1990 |1979
|1999 |2124
|2007 |2206
|2012 |2108
|2017 |2115
}}
History
In 1436, Wautier de Ghistelles was seigneur d'Ekelsbeke et de Ledringhem (Lord of Esquelbecq and Ledringhem) and governor of La Madeleine hospital in Bierne.[http://home.nordnet.fr/~jacfermaut/terrierbierne09.html Bierne history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210163440/http://home.nordnet.fr/~jacfermaut/terrierbierne09.html |date=2010-02-10 }} (French)
The Wormhoudt massacre was perpetrated near Esquelbecq on 80 British and French prisoners of war by Waffen-SS members at the time of the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.
Heraldry
{{Blazon-arms
| img1=Blason de la ville de Esquelbecq 2 (59) Nord-France.svg
| legend1=Arms of Esquelbecq
| text=The arms of Esquelbecq are blazoned :
Or, a chevron azure between 3 mullets of 5 gules.
| motto=vaincre ou mourir (win or die)
}}
Church and organ
The church on the village square is dedicated to Folcwin, who died at Esquelbecq in 855 CE.{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/folcwin-st|title=Folcwin, St. - Dictionary definition of Folcwin, St. - Encyclopedia.com: Free online dictionary|publisher=The Gale Group Inc.; Retrieved 14 July 2018}} It is a hall church of the hallekerk type characteristic of the region, with three naves of equal length, width, and height. The interior and roof were destroyed by a fire in 1976, but the external appearance is still substantially as it was in 1610, with an attractive lozenge pattern in the brickwork.http://www.cote-dopale.com/tourisme/eglise-d-esquelbecq/ Côte d'Opale tourisme - Eglise d'Esquelbecq; Retrieved 14 July 2018
The present church organ, by Marc Garnier (who also built an organ for the Elgar Concert Hall at the University of Birmingham), was built after the fire. It is modelled on the designs prevalent in Flanders in the 17th century and is "mesotonic" – tuned so that pieces from that era can be played in meantone temperament.http://www.cote-dopale.com/tourisme/eglise-d-esquelbecq/ Côte d'Opale tourisme - Eglise d'Esquelbecq; Retrieved 14 July 2018
Transportation
File:Gare d'Esquelbecq - 6.JPG
Esquelbecq is served by a railway station.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category}}
{{Nord communes}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Communes of Nord (French department)
{{DunkirkArrondissement-geo-stub}}