Birthplace of the Marquis of Sargadelos

Latitude: 43.2473907 Length: -7.0108223
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Raimundo Ibáñez , Marquis of Sargadelos (1749-1809), was a merchant and industrialist of his time, especially known for conceiving and founding the Sargadelos ceramics factory , a model of early industrial capitalism in Spain. He also promoted trade, the basis of his fortune, both by sea and inland within the Iberian Peninsula, primarily in linen and alcohol, while simultaneously managing several mines. Furthermore, he championed the Enlightenment and introduced several important technological innovations from Europe to his factories.

A museum that is a house

The birthplace of this illustrious figure is located in Ferreirela de Baxo (Santa Eulalia de Oscos). It is a museum belonging to the network of ethnographic museums of Asturias and is dedicated to his life and work. The exhibition highlights his connection to his homeland, which has long been home to a significant wrought iron industry. During our visit, we will also learn firsthand about traditional Asturian architecture in western Asturias, the way of life of yesteryear, and the traditions, customs, and subsistence economy of the 18th and 19th centuries.

The building is an old two-story house renovated in 1774. The upper floor recreates different rooms characteristic of the area's housing: the patio, used for multiple purposes (pig slaughter, farming implements, etc.); the lareira, the main room of the house with the oven, benches, and kitchen utensils; the cuarto de fora, a bedroom with various furnishings; the cuarto grande or sala, used as a bedroom and dining room for parties and celebrations; and the cuarto pequeño, which provides access to the ground floor. Several panels distributed throughout the rooms contain information about the house and its surroundings, a biography of Ibáñez, and a reproduction of the portrait painted by Francisco de Goya between 1805 and 1808.

On the ground floor, there is a room dedicated to the textile industry , an activity in which Ibáñez was involved: he imported linen from the Baltic, distributed it to the houses in the region, and finally collected the finished product. Another room displays a selection of objects produced at the Royal Factories of Sargadelos , mainly earthenware from all periods (plates, platters, cups, etc.). The complex is completed by the forge and the wine cellar, both located in the courtyard.

In Mazonovo , 2 km from Ferreirela de Baxo, you can take the opportunity to visit a hydraulic hammer mill and forge workshop dating from the 18th century , which is maintained as it was in the past and helps to understand the iron industry and the times of the Marquis.

The factories founded by our subject in Sargadelos continued operating until 1875 , and were auctioned off in 1878. The noble title of Marquis was granted to him posthumously, as it could not be processed beforehand, and it is currently held by his descendants. In 2004, the "Friends of Don Antonio Raimundo Ibáñez, Marquis of Sargadelos" Association was founded in Santa Eulalia de Oscos, dedicated to his memory and the study of his legacy.