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Date Published: 13/09/2021
ARCHIVED - Work underway to restore two more snow wells in the Sierra Espuña
The “pozos de nieve” supplied ice to the cities and towns of the region prior to the invention of the fridge!
Wells number 11 and 13 are being restored with a budget of 322,000 euros financed almost entirely by EU funds
Nowadays we take it for granted that cooling ice lollies and refreshing drinks are always available in the fridge during the hottest months of the year, but before the invention of fridges and freezers, ice was a luxury which could only be afforded by the wealthy and represented an important industry in the Sierra Espuña.
Although snow is rarely seen in the Murcia Region nowadays, it was formerly normal for large volumes of snow to fall in the higher areas of the Murcia region and in the Sierra Espuña “pozos de nieve” or snow wells were built, into which snow was packed and compacted to make blocks of ice.
The ice thus generated was carried down by horse and cart into the towns and cities and sold during the warmer months, providing important income for families living in the higher areas of the region as well as refreshing luxury for the wealthy.
Although snow is rarely seen in the Murcia Region nowadays, it was formerly normal for large volumes of snow to fall in the higher areas of the Murcia region and in the Sierra Espuña “pozos de nieve” or snow wells were built, into which snow was packed and compacted to make blocks of ice.
The ice thus generated was carried down by horse and cart into the towns and cities and sold during the warmer months, providing important income for families living in the higher areas of the region as well as refreshing luxury for the wealthy.
Several snow wells have been restored and can be visited today (click for info about visiting the restored snow wells) but most of them have fallen into a ruinous state despite being of great historical and ethnographical interest. The bulk of the wells are close together in a complex of 28 wells, together with 12 attached buildings (hermitage and houses), two water sources, two roads which form part of the network of natural trails (PR-MU-57 and PR-MU-63) and a livestock route (with a trough and livestock resting place).
It is probably the largest group of wells in the entire Mediterranean context, which gives us an idea of the scale of the intense economic activity that took place in this region between the 16th and 19th centuries.
During the summer work has begun on the the two wells which have been identified as being at the greatest risk of collapse, numbers 11 and 13, using traditional construction techniques, to learn more about how they were originally built and used.
Well number 11 is one of the largest of the set that exist in the Sierra Espuña and was in a dilapidated state, the dome having partially collapsed, but with the drum and access holes relatively well preserved.
Number 13 is quite unique due to the conical and pointed shape of its dome, much of which had been crumbling away during the last 30 years.
Archaeological work, cleaning and consolidation of the walls and construction of exterior and interior scaffolding of both wells has been carried out, preparing the base of the structures before reconstruction of the domes begins.
Both of the wells had been filled with sediment and debris, but now the original base of the wells has been uncovered as well as the original accesses to the wells.
The work has revealed that the larger well of the two was 12 metres deep and its floor had been sealed with a layer of lime on stones, which would give the wells a more or less clean surface onto which the snow could be packed.
The contracted works have a budget of about 322,000 euros, financed 80 percent by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and 20 percent by the regional government.
Well number 11 is one of the largest of the set that exist in the Sierra Espuña and was in a dilapidated state, the dome having partially collapsed, but with the drum and access holes relatively well preserved.
Number 13 is quite unique due to the conical and pointed shape of its dome, much of which had been crumbling away during the last 30 years.
Archaeological work, cleaning and consolidation of the walls and construction of exterior and interior scaffolding of both wells has been carried out, preparing the base of the structures before reconstruction of the domes begins.
Both of the wells had been filled with sediment and debris, but now the original base of the wells has been uncovered as well as the original accesses to the wells.
The work has revealed that the larger well of the two was 12 metres deep and its floor had been sealed with a layer of lime on stones, which would give the wells a more or less clean surface onto which the snow could be packed.
The contracted works have a budget of about 322,000 euros, financed 80 percent by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and 20 percent by the regional government.
The total execution time of the works is 6 months, so it is anticipated that the project will conclude before the end of the year and visitors will be able to visit the two structures, in addition to those already open.
The Sierra Espuña is a cool, forested area, ideal for walking and enjoying the great outdoors even in the summer heat. There are plenty of walking routes, picnic areas and activity sports on offer including quad biking and lazer clay pigeon shooting.
There are plenty of places to visit, accessed either through Totana, Alhama de Murcia or from Mula. Full information can be found in the dedicated Sierra Espuña section of the website.
Image: Región de Murcia
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