ARCHIVED - Work begins to restore the Chimenea de La Loma in Aguilas

The chimney is almost 200 years old and is a monument to the industrial past of Águilas

Work has begun in Águilas, in the south-west of the Region of Murcia, to restore the industrial chimney of La Loma, which stands as a monument to the industrial past of the area, and Mayoress Mari Carmen Moreno visited the site on March 23 to inspect early progress along with Councillor Maido Simó.

This project is budgeted to cost 140,000 euros, of which 80 per cent is funded by European Regional Development funds and is expected to be finished in July of this year. It is being carried out along with others which serve to highlight the mining and industrial heritage of Águilas, and consists of firstly replacing broken bricks, some of which were damaged around 100 years ago by a lightning strike, and then installing information boards around the monument.

These boards will also explain the network of tunnels which exist beneath the site, leading to and from the iconic jetty of El Hornillo.

The influx of capital investment in this part of Spain after a seam of silver was discovered in the hills of the Sierra de la Almagrera in 1838 saved Águilas from economic ruin, and numerous outsiders arrived in search of work and riches. Between 1830 and 1850 the population tripled, reaching around 10,000, and as the minerals were transported to Águilas by rail for shipment abroad a whole series of foundries and smelting plants emerged in the town.

These led to Águilas becoming for a while the largest Mediterranean port in terms of mineral extract exports as well as esparto grass, and the Chimenea de La Loma, on the western end of the town, is a very visible reminder of these phases of its history. It was built in the 1830s in order to ensure that the fumes and smoke from the San José and Iberia foundries did not pollute the air in the town centre, and when the foundries eventually plants fell into disuse the underground galleries and tunnels were later used by tobacco smugglers!

For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Águilas Today.