In search of Albacete's lost heritage (Part II)

In the previous Post In search of Albacete's lost heritage (Part I) we talked about the origins of Albacete and above all we saw how these origins are based on an enormous archaeological vacuum created by urban speculation and the meaningless picket that caused so much damage during the 70s and 80s, and that still gives a few hits today...

That lost heritage of Albacete.

As complementary documentation, we leave you here a map of our own creation that reflects the growth of Albacete and the patrimonial elements that we had and those that we keep.

As you can see, we have lost a lot, but luckily we still have quite a few things to enjoy, especially modernist architecture from the beginning of the 20th century.

Few architectural elements have come to us from medieval and modern Albacete, our city was dotted with numerous inns, La Estrella, Del Rosario, La Feria... etc., as well as hermitages, which still give their names to our streets and neighborhoods, San Sebastián, Santa Cruz, Santa Quiteria, San Antón...

In addition, the Villa had a fence with its respective doors, Chinchilla, Madrid, La Feria, Valencia..., whose more than defensive objective was to collect money, although it was reinforced and fortified during the Carlist incursions of the mid-19th century, and that, as with other lost heritage elements, its existence is reflected in the toponymy and the street map of Albacete.

The disappearance of all these patrimonial elements was consummated with the “modernization” of the Villa, in the middle of the 19th century, with the processes of confiscation, many of the hermitages, churches and convents fall into disrepair and are converted or directly demolished, this line of “renovation” increased with the Boom urban planning of the 60-70s and was consummated in the 80s with the major urban reforms that our city underwent and that we have already commented on before.

Here are some of the “fallen” buildings in the name of progress:

Canciano Lopez House

State of conservation: Demolished

Built in 1921 in Plaza Gabriel Lodares, designed by Julio Carrilero Prat and unfortunately fallen to the picket line in 1975.

House of the Count of Pinohermoso — Central Bank

State of conservation: Demolished

The palace-house of the Counts of Pinohermoso dates back to the 16th century and was located in the Plaza del Altozano, opposite the current Gran Hotel. Renaissance-style building, it was demolished in 1916 and instead the Central Bank was built in 1926, the work of the architect Isidro de Benito, with a Neo-Plateresque layout.

Sentenced for urban speculation, he fell to the picket line in 1975

This is a case that we could call a multiple attack, since, in less than 60 years, we lost a Renaissance palace and the modernist building that replaced it.

House of the Counts of Villaleal or “The Picos”

State of conservation: Demolished

An early 16th century palace located on Calle Gaona 20, it had a magnificent façade of clove heads from the Mudéjar tradition, as well as a single-body façade, with a large lower lintel opening, accompanied by pilasters and continuous molding. Above this, a simple ledge supports the second, walled opening. On both sides, there are two coats of arms carved in the same stone.

The building, despite its great value and heritage beauty, was demolished in 1977, fortunately, the façade was preserved and relocated, integrating it into the Posada del Rosario, where it remains today.

Barracks Civil Guard. Daniel Rubio Building

State of conservation: Knocked Down

Located on the block bounded by the avenues of Ramón y Cajal and the Guardia Civil, and the streets of Mariana Pineda and de la Industria, the barracks were designed in 1916 by Daniel Rubio.

During the Spanish Civil War, it was the main quartering point for the International Brigades, known as the National Guard Barracks, and was able to house nearly 1000 brigade members.

During the dictatorship, it was modified in succession, until between 1965 and 1968 it was demolished to build the current building of the Civil Guard Barracks.

Casa de Hoyos

State of conservation: Demolished

The Casa de los Hoyos was a mansion from the middle of the 18th century, which was located on the north corner of the intersection of Mayor and Rosario streets.

Unfortunately, it has not reached the present day, being sold and demolished in the 70s.

And a small plus...

Those images are taken in the same place, a hundred years apart.

Bibliography

• García-Sauco Belendez, L.G. (1979). The Cathedral of San Juan Bautista in Albacete. Institute for Albacetenese Studies. Series I. No. 2
• Gutierrez Mozo, Mª. E. (2001). The Awakening of a City: Albacete 1898-1936. Celeste Editions.
• Magan Perales, J.M. (1997). The urban development of the city of Albacete. Institute for Albacetenese Studies. #94
• Mateos Arcángel, A. (1983). From Old Albacete. Institute for Albacete Studies.
• Meya Iñiguez, Mª. M. (2001). Old Albacete: the lost devotions. Institute for Albacete Studies. #131
• Petrer Marín, A. (2007). From Islamic Albacete, notes and conjectures. Institute for Albacetenese Studies.
• Petrer Marín, A. (2010). The town of Albacete in the Late Middle Ages. Institute for Albacetenese Studies. #194
• Sanchez Torres, F.J. (1916). Notes for the History of Albacete.
• Sanz, R. & Gutierrez Lloret, S. (1991). Romans, Visigoths, Muslims, in Albacete in its History.