Annequin is a large farming (and ex-mining) village situated some 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Béthune and 22 miles (35 km) southwest of Lille, at the junction of the D61 and the N41 roads.
Coal mining
Excavation of Mine 9 by the Compagnie des mines de Béthune began at Annequin in 1893.
Mine 9 began production in 1896, ventilated by shaft 4bis.
Shaft 12 was started at Annequin in February 1909 and reached a depth of 520 metres (1,710 ft).
It was connected to Mine 9 and was used only for ventilation.
Mine 9 was closed in 1964 and Shaft 12 in 1965.[4]