Until January 14 Local history exhibition in Mazarron

Insights into Mazarrón history are provided by the census of 1749-56

An exhibition entitled "El Catastro de Ensenada. Magna averiguación fiscal para alivio de los Vasallos y mejor conocimiento de los Reinos (1749-1756)" is being held at the Casas Consistoriales in the centre of Mazarrón over the 2023-24 festive season, exploring local history through the documentation included in the census and overall survey of Spain which was commissioned by King Ferdinand VI and his minister the Marquis of Ensenada, known today as the Catastro of Ensenada.

Each locality was required to produce detailed answers to 40 questions, and this led to an enormous amount of documentation which now allows affords historians to analyse economic, social and environmental data from the mid-18^th century. In the case of Mazarrón, for example, the registers of 1755 show that the “villa realenga” was home to 711 residents in 646 houses, and to another 311 in residences dotted throughout the municipality. Also noted are a Franciscan monastery, flour mills, saltpetre pans, ceramics kilns, bread ovens and a fishing fleet of 29 boats manned by 85 crew.

The exhibition is divided into two parts: one is open to the public 24 hours a day as it consists of panels in the street, while the other is in the lower floor of the Casas Consistoriales and can be visited between 10.00 and 14.00 from Monday to Saturday and from 17.00 to 20.00 on Thursday and Friday afternoons (except December 30 and on public holidays).

For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Mazarrón Today.