 It
had a church and a small palace in the centre
and different types of house according to
social category. Its enlightened inspiration
(XVIII century) led to a concern for the comfort
of the workers, which, in turn, worked to
the good of production. With more than 50
workers, operators and qualified technicians,
the cost of running and maintaining the factory
was huge, although it did manage to produce
3,600 bombs a year.
The Orbaitzeta arms factory was created when
the existing factory in Eugi exhausted the
woods surrounding it. And so another location
was sought to ensure sustainable, continuous
production to meet the needs of the artillery
of the Royal army.
Nearby, traditionally-exploited, iron deposits,
water in abundance in local streams and timber
(Mount Aezkoa was ceded via a pact which the
Crown failed to respect) led Carlos III to
set up the Factory at this location. There
are references to the existence of an ironworks
in Txangoa, to the north of the ruins of the
Factory, at a location whose very name refers
to work with this metal: Olazar.
Almost all of the significant wars of the
XIX century affected the Factory and the villages
of Aezkoa: the War of the Convention, the
Carlist wars, etc.
The factory complex has gradually deteriorated
since it was finally closed in 1873. Even
still, certain parts can still be appreciated:
the furnaces, the canalisation of the River
Legartza, Church, Palace, etc- There is now
a restoration project aimed at returning an
appearance in line with the Factory’s
importance. |
