San Miguel Ghost Village, Huelva Province

San Miguel Mining Village San Miguel is an abandoned mining village set in 267 hectares of land. The land lies in two parcels, one of 224 hectares comprising the village and surroundings, and the other 29 hectares enclosing the reservoir and adjacent land. The water surface of the reservoir covers 14 hectares when full and is connected to the village by a canal which forms part of the main parcel of land.

Description The main part of the village consists of 19 buildings total approximately 6,000 m2. There is about 4-5,000 m2 of older buildings comprising nine long rows of miners cottages. A bridge built for the railway line which originally serviced the mining community crosses the river that passes through the property and is in sound condition. It is capable of bearing heavy loads but only wide enough for a single vehicle at a time. The main access to the property does not require use of this bridge.

The village can either be re-built for individual housing, tourist development or similar use on most parts of the property. The total amount of square meters allowed would be 9,000 and perhaps a maximum of 12,000. No planning permission is permitted in this district unless forming part of a restoration project such as this.

The new buildings do not have to be restricted to the size or style of the old buildings. They can be of ecological style of architecture. A large architectural structure would be acceptable. There will be height restrictions. The local town hall wants to breathe life into the old village and employ as many people as possible both in the re-building and ideally for permanent jobs later.

The Old Mining Village

Some of the houses

Houses to re-build

Quarry & old mine

Old mine & Roman shaft

Bridge over the river

Old miners houses

History of San Miguel The mines of San Miguel have been exploited since the time of the Tartesios and the Romans. There are several small Roman shafts grouped in a small area near the old mine. As of all southern Spain no mining activity took place after the Romans left until the 19th century when Rio Tinto and the other smaller mines started operating. Building at San Miguel must have started around 1845 although a large farmhouse stood there from a much earlier date.

Mining continued discontinuously for over a century, frequently interrupted by market conditions or wars. A small pocket of gold bearing ore from the surface was sold to Rio Tinto in 1994 but no real mining has been done since 1970 when the ore bodies were considered depleted. In its heyday around 1900 to 1914 the mine employed about 400 men of which half actually lived and were housed there.

San Miguel was equipped with a small, fully-staffed hospital, had its own shops and repair sheds for the locomotives and good housing for the level expected at the time. There was also a small church, barracks and carpenters shop. The imposing ruins of the House of Address still reveal the importance of this mine. The private narrow gauge railway carried the ore to a junction with the main Huelva line.

The property has been in private hands since 1926 and since then no underground mining has been carried out, all the extractive operations being done in the small open-cast. Rio Tinto rented this open-cast and worked it on a small scale for eleven years (1959-1970). Except for the gold ores taken in 1994 no further mineral has been mined.

The lake

The Lake

Location San Miguel village is near to Almonaster La Real, and a short distance from Aracena in Huelva Province. The city of Huelva and the beaches of the Costa de la Luz are 90 km away. The city of Seville is 120 km.

Viewing arrangements Las Minas Village is for sale at 2.100.000 Euros. Viewing is strictly by appointment with selling agents Images of Andalucia. Proof of funds will be required prior to a viewing appointment. To make an appointment either email propertysales@imagesofandalucia.com Telephone 0034 603 424 175 Skype imagesofandalucia www.imagesofandalucia.com