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ARCHIVED - Wall of historic San Antonio prison in Cartagena demolished despite opposition
Urban planning granted a license to demolish the ‘unprotected’ part of the property in Cartagena despite the opposition of residents and the local government
The fate of the old Civil War prison of San Anton has been the subject of much controversy over recent years, with many believing the structure should be demolished altogether while others feel it is an important part of Cartagena’s historical memory. Although the regional council and scores of local residents opposed its demolition, the owners of the land on which it is built, a healthcare company which manages the Perpetuo Socorro hospital, has proceeded to tear down one of the walls on Tuesday, August 3.
The company had actually requested permission to raze the entire building, but the Murcia government and the regional Superior Court of Justice opposed the move. However, according to municipal sources, the part of the wall they have now pulled down is not protected, and so there was little the local council could do to prevent the works.
The demolition caused outrage among the preservation group La Cárcel no se Toca, who have requested that the site of the old San Antón Prison become a cultural centre in order to preserve its history. Group representative Esperanza Castelo pointed out that in other municipalities, such as Murcia, the governments have purchased old prisons and turned them into public spaces. For this reason, a dozen or so protestors turned out at the prison to voice their dissatisfaction on Tuesday morning.
The controversy over San Antón dates back several years, to the time when the site was put up for auction and purchased by the company that manages the Perpetuo Socorro. The company intended to demolish the building entirely in order to expand the its pèratoins and in 2017 it requested a license for this from the Cartagena City Council.
It was because of this that the residents set up the La Cárcel no se Toca platform and began attempts to safeguard the building, which dates back to 1935, shortly before the Spanish Civil War, during which it was in use to house political prisoners and was the source of much distress to the residents of Cartagena.
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