St Omer

St Omer, a town of France, and second-class fortress, dept. Pas-de-Calais, stands in a marshy site, on the Aa, 26 miles SE. of Calais by rail. The chief objects of interest are the Gothic cathedral (13th-15th century), with remarkable sculptures, the ruined tower and arches of the Benedictine abbey church of St Bertin, an arsenal, a museum, and a library. A college for the education of English and Irish Catholics was opened at St Omer in 1592. It was closed, however, during the Revolution, but still exists as a seminary. Alban Butler was a president, and O'Connell a student. The people carry on active manufactures of tobacco-pipes, tulle, cambric, cloth, and muslin, and a brisk trade in provisions (eggs, vegetables, &c.), sugar, and spirits. Pop. (1872) 21,007; (1891) 20,829.