On a hillside behind the campsite are some abandoned mines. We decided to take a look. A climb of about an hour to reach the first reminded us that the miners had this trek to make and then do a day’s work. We’re getting close to the first mine here:
There are several mines, some interconnected below ground,
stretching right up the hillside:
These are iron ore mines, first started in 1884 by a French company, initially using mules to bring the ore out and cart it down to the coast. This archive photo gives an idea of the work:
There was a full complex of administrative buildings as well
as the mines themselves, including essential water storage in this odd shaped
structure:
In 1912 the owners suspended mining temporarily. They
reopened in 1915 having modernised operations with pneumatic machinery
and an aerial cableway to move the ore to the coast. A few of the pylons are
still standing indicating the route to the coast:
Having conveyed the ore to the coast, a new jetty was built allowing
easier loading of the barges that ferried the ore to the ships waiting in the
bay. Clearly they weren’t able to take the jetty into deep water for loading
directly onto the ships. The archive photo next gives an idea of the system,
with the jetty on the left and the barges stringing out from it. Nothing now
remains of the jetty.
We didn’t venture into the mines themselves as we weren’t equipped
but there are no barriers preventing access. They are a firm favourite venue
for caving groups that do have the equipment - and the training.
The mines closed in 1931 when Franco came to power (I can’t
see any connection ) and reopened in 1951, with final closure in 1961 due to
cheaper competition. The ore was in fact high grade and had been exported to
the UK and Switzerland.
A hard life for the locals, but who said dealing with us holidaymakers was easy!
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