Casa del Ingles, La Oliva

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

From RadioSintonia.com

The ministry of Culture and Historical Heritage of the lobby of Fuerteventura and the Cultural Association Root of the People have initiated a popular consultation on the value of La Casa del Inglés, located in the town of La Oliva. In this way, citizen participation in the future use that will be given to this Cultural Interest (BIC) is favored, following the process of comprehensive rehabilitation of this historical monument by the island corporation in collaboration with Asociación Cultural Raíz del Pueblo.
According to the director of the area, "it is a question of providing ideas about the projection and approach that this BIC should have, always for the benefit of the collective culture of the Island".
Interested parties can access this popular consultation via the link:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdyEyzLx0dgoCaiX33S6FE4bUU4ku7qQygMGpZfDOUEcvFYyg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1
Decree 224/2005, of December 13, declares La Casa del Inglés as a Cultural Interest, with a category of monument, delimiting its protection environment. It is an eighteenth century house, located in the place called 'Site of Don David', in the village of La Oliva. This house is a relevant example of the architecture developed by the rural bourgeoisie, being an external evidence of the economic power of the agricultural and commercial bourgeoisie that settled in La Oliva.
The house was built by Mr. Julián Leal Sicilia, whose family, from La Palma, was dedicated to agriculture and trade between the Canary Islands and America. It later became the property of Mr. Parkinson, an English naturalist, dedicated to the study of flora and fauna. The presence of Parkinson's in Fuerteventura is the one left in the memory and even today the house is known as 'Casa del Inglés'. Eventually, Parkinson sold the house, which received different uses. After the Civil War it was occupied by the army, remaining in it for several years infantry troops in one part and in the other a nursing service of the military forces located then in La Oliva.
This two-storey construction is distributed around a large patio with cistern, which was later divided into two, by means of a partition that crosses it from north to south. The house is built with masonry walls, using stone ashlars in the spans and corners.

[TrickyFox]

Hope you don't mind, I copied this to one of the FB pages that I admin.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

No problem 

[TrickyFox]

This building was the inspiration for the place in Tiscamanita in the novel 'Clarissa's Warning' by Isobel Blackthorn.

[Captain Sensible]

The Cabildo of Fuerteventura are going to buy it.

https://noticiasfuerteventura.com/fuerte...Oi2tU3ZTyI

The Cabildo buys the “Casa del Inglés” in La Oliva
  
  Councilor Briansó announces that it is planned to rehabilitate the building to turn it into a space for creation, production and cultural and heritage research

 The Council of Historical Heritage of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura has reached a purchase agreement, after a negotiation process and administrative procedures, to acquire the property known as "La Casa del Inglés" in La Oliva, after years of neglect and deterioration of this historic property. The Island Corporation has been working for several months promoting the purchase of this monument with the aim of safeguarding it, rehabilitating it and making it available to the public. Now, thanks to the streamlining of administrative procedures in the last year 2020 and the approval of the budget on February 25, the purchase of this historic building is possible and the final payment will be made next month with the budget settlement.

 The Department of Historical Heritage has completed the elaboration of the program of necessity of the house elaborated from the popular consultation of use of the property and that will allow the restoration of the monument. In this way, the preparatory actions of the service hiring file for the drafting of the final project are completed, based on the consolidation, restoration and rehabilitation works of the Casa del Inglés Cultural Interest Site, in La Oliva.

 The intervention project complies with what is established by Law 11/2019 of April 25 on the Cultural Heritage of the Canary Islands, especially with articles 73 and 74 of said Law, on interventions in real estate declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. It will also integrate studies and analysis of balconies, stairs, cistern, openings, roofs, stairs, floors, battlements and the study of the paintings on the walls; colors in each unit, exteriors, colored bands, etc.

 The counselor Andrés Briansó states that "it has been a long process that finally sees results thanks to the impulse of the counseling in the last year as well as the established negotiation agreements, which will allow to rehabilitate and protect the BIC". In this sense, the Island Council of Fuerteventura wants to allocate the building to spaces for creation, production and cultural and heritage research, given the popular consultation.

  In this way, the building will have a sociocultural area, where it will integrate several rooms dedicated to research: a space for cultural researchers, equipped with the necessary equipment to enable practice. It will also include a rehearsal room for performing arts and another for music.

  The property will include a permanent exhibition room on the architecture of Fuerteventura and another for educational uses, and a recording studio room as well as a plastic arts laboratory-workshop. An exclusive space will be set up for the exhibition of the architectural and historical values of the Casa del Inglés Property of Cultural Interest. And finally, the interior patio will be conditioned, which must be open, open to the public so that they can be traveled without obstacles for visitors, and invite the whole house to enter. All existing elements will be preserved; balconies, cistern, etc.

 Finally, the project will take into account actions to prevent, avoid or reduce the incidence of works, activities or uses that affect the monument, its visual perspectives, contemplation, study or the appreciation and understanding of its values. The actions include the following: conditioning of the monument's protection environment as an open-air reception space and a covered reception space that allows contemplation of the monument and rest, with shadows, tables and benches.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia today:

The Casa del Inglés becomes the property of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura.
The Cabildo of Fuerteventura informs this morning that it has acquired the so-called Casa del Inglés, from the town of La Oliva, in order to rehabilitate it and give it a social and cultural use. It is a house of the eighteenth century that constitutes a relevant sample of the architecture developed by the bourgeois agricultural and commercial economic power that settled in La Oliva.

 

The Casa del Inglés forms together with the Casa de los Coroneles, La Capellanía, La Iglesia de la Candelaria and several buildings of domestic architecture an interesting historical complex in La Oliva. Its unique character, its architectural values and its importance in the town of La Oliva determined its declaration as an Asset of Cultural Interest.

According to the president of the Cabildo, Sergio Lloret López, "today is a great day for Fuerteventura for that commitment acquired by all institutions, society in general and the Cabildo in preserving all our past as this property of great historical and architectural relevance". "After years of efforts and administrative efforts, the Island Corporation assumes the challenge of launching at the beginning of next year the project of rehabilitation, improvement and putting into use, for which we will coordinate between the City Council, Majorera society and the different services of the Cabildo to put the property at the service of society in general".

For the first deputy mayor of La Oliva, Pedro Amador, "it is important that the Cabildo acquires this property declared BIC and that together with other assets form the historic complex of La Oliva, as a sample of the patrimonial wealth of the Island.

For his part, the Minister of Culture and Historical Heritage, Rayco León, said that "what is presented now is the result of a long process, thanking all the people who have pushed the project to come to fruition." León highlighted "the energy with which the people of La Oliva defend their heritage", and explained that "an intense work awaits us ahead so that the house is put at the service of all citizens, and thus becomes part of the cultural life of Fuerteventura".

The act of presentation of the acquisition was attended by other representatives of cabildo and municipalities, as well as the historian Pedro Carreño and the representative of the Association Raíz el Pueblo, Concha Fleitas,who indicated that it is an extraordinary satisfaction that the purchase process has been completed and that this emblematic building will be recovered for the use and enjoyment of Fuerteventura.

Asset of Cultural Interest

The property was declared BIC in 2005 and its acquisition is due to the intention of the Cabildo to have an emblematic building, relevant in the cultural heritage of the Island with the aim of its subsequent rehabilitation to allocate it to public use.

The Cabildo initiated the file for the acquisition of the property in 2019.The action plan for the house is currently being designed and, in broad lines, will include a socio-cultural area, with dependencies aimed at highlighting the architectural and historical values of the house, as well as research, performing arts, music, exhibitions and other uses.

The amount of the sale amounts to 314,398 euros, after the agreement reached with the owners of the property, and with this operation culminates a desired desire and firm commitment of the island institution for the conservation of this historic property and its protection environment.

The house, quadrangular and double height, is articulated around a large patio. It is made in good masonry walls, using stone ashlars in the corners.

History of the House of English

The house was erected by Mr. Julián Leal Sicilia, whose family (from La Palma), was dedicated to agriculture and trade between the Canary Islands and America. Later, the house became the property of John Parkinson, an English naturalist dedicated to the study of flora and fauna who spent long periods in Fuerteventura. It is the presence of this man in Fuerteventura that has remained in the memory and even today the house is known as 'Casa del Inglés'.
Mr. Parkinson then sold the house and later received different uses. After the civil war it was occupied by the army, remaining in it for several the infantry troops in one part and in the other a nursing service of the military forces located at that time in La Oliva.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

from Diario:

The González Arroyo family claims ownership of the Casa del Inglés, a property built in the eighteenth century in La Oliva, listed as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), for which the Cabildo de Fuerteventura has just disbursed 319,000 euros in a purchase procedure.

On Friday of last week the property was fenced, of which the Cabildo presented last December the purchase agreement and announced a restoration project. Inside the farm has been placed a sign that says: "Casa del Inglés, property of Don Ramón González Brito".
Ramón González Brito was the father of Domingo González Arroyo, former mayor of La Oliva, and grandfather of Pilar González Segura, current mayor of the northern municipality. The González Arroyo family maintains that the property was acquired by Ramón González in January 1933 from Francisco Manrique de Lara y Ríos.
This is reflected in a letter presented at the Cabildo of Fuerteventura last October by three brothers of the former mayor of La Oliva: José Antonio González Arroyo, father of the national deputy Ariagona González; Carmen Rosa González Arroyo and María Teresa González Sánchez.
José Antonio González Arroyo denied to Diario de Fuerteventura that he was responsible for the fencing of the property, but the poster coincides with the claim raised before the Cabildo. The poster says that Ramón González Brito lived in the Casa del Inglés with his wife Candelaria Sánchez and that "today it is owned by his heirs." In addition, the prohibition of entry "to any person outside the property" is declared.
According to the claim presented by three brothers of Domingo González Arroyo in the Cabildo majorero, the father of the 'Marqués de las Dunas' died in March 1978. In August 1990, the award and acceptance of his inheritance was carried out. The claim states that "the heirs" were awarded the House of English. It is not clear whether in that inheritance the property was awarded to more people.

"It is a public and notorious fact that from 1933 to date my family has been holding the possession in good faith of the aforementioned property as owner and publicly, peacefully and uninterruptedly without any opposition from third parties," says the document signed by the brother of the former mayor of La Oliva.

Sources of the Cabildo majorero point out that the institution has bought the Casa del Inglés from the heirs of the Manrique de Lara family, who are the cadastral owners of the property. The price, of 319,000 euros, was reached through an agreement "protected" by the Court.

From the Cabildo of Fuerteventura they assure that legal actions will be taken to restore the possession of the newly purchased Casa del Inglés and defend the acquisition made and the rejection of the demand of the González Arroyo family that, in their own claim, came to admit that the property was not registered in their name. To have rights over it, he argued, "registration" in the Land Registry is not necessary, and he referred to the acceptance of inheritance as the "title of dominion" over the House of English.

and then in reply: (also in Diario)

The Cabildo insists that the purchase of the Casa del Inglés is "firm" and processes removing the fence installed by the family of the mayor

• Lloret recalled that the actions to acquire the House of English arise as a result of a "popular claim".
  The president of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, Sergio Lloret, stressed that the purchase of the Casa del Inglés by the island institution is "firm" and the file has been processed for days to remove the fence installed by the family of the mayor of La Oliva, Pilar González, and recover possession."Everyone can initiate the actions they consider, but our legal services emphasize that the acquisition of the Cabildo is fully legal and consolidated, based on the principle of trust of the registry data, so we have acted in good faith," Lloret said in statements to Diario de Fuerteventura.On Friday of last week, the González Arroyo family installed a fence with a padlock on the Casa del Inglés and placed a sign in which it stated that the property, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, had been purchased by Ramón González, grandfather of the mayor, in 1933 from the Manrique de Lara family."If there is any litigation over any right, it would not be in any case with the Cabildo," Lloret said, referring to the fact that if the González Arroyo want to exercise actions they would have to deploy them against the Manrique de Lara.The González Arroyo family itself recognizes in a brief presented in the Cabildo that the house is not registered in their name and they intend to assert the inheritance of Domingo González Arroyo's father as a title.Lloret recalled that the actions to acquire the Casa del Inglés arise as a result of a "popular claim". From the Historical Heritage Area "compliance with the law was always demanded, because the duty of conservation corresponds to the owners," he stressed.The Manrique de Lara family alleged that it lacked the means to maintain the property in good condition and initiated litigation, which concluded with mediation with the Cabildo and a purchase agreement of about 319,000 euros, formalized last year."The purchase agreement was reported favorably by the services of the Cabildo and the mandate to acquire the Casa del Inglés from its registry holders was fulfilled," said the president of the Island Corporation.Lloret is struck by the measures taken by force by the González Arroyos, since the purchase of the Casa del Inglés "is not a file that began two months ago."

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

This has become such a typical 'Fuerteventura' situation!

From Radio Sintonia:

This morning operators of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura in the presence of agents of the Civil Guard, have proceeded to the removal of the fence that the González Arroyo family had installed in the vicinity of the Casa del Inglés since they maintain that the property is theirs.
 
As you will remember, the old house was acquired by the Cabildo of Fuerteventura from the Manrique de Lara family a few weeks ago, while the Gozález Arroyo family assures that the Manrique sold them at the time.
The Minister of Historical Heritage, Raico León indicated that the Cabildo of Fuerteventura removes the fence of the Casa del Inglés because it does not comply with the "regulations on roads" and another will be placed for "citizen security" when the building is in ruins.
León, points out on the other hand, that in the whole process of withdrawal "has been very scrupulous" and assured that "the Cabildo of Fuerteventura is the owner of property".
As will be recalled, the island institution acquired it in order to rehabilitate it and give it a social and cultural use. It is a house of the eighteenth century that constitutes a relevant sample of the architecture developed by the bourgeois agricultural and commercial economic power that settled in La Oliva. The property was declared BIC in 2005 and the amount of the sale amounted to 314,398 euros.
The Cabildo, informed at the time of the initiated the file for the acquisition of the property in 2019. The action plan for the house is currently being studied and, in broad lines, will include a socio-cultural area, with dependencies aimed at highlighting the architectural and historical values of the house, as well as research, performing arts, music, exhibitions and other uses.

and then later from Diario:

Lloret sends a message to the mayor for the Casa del Inglés: "We want the City Council of La Oliva to act committed to the general interest"

• The Cabildo places security in the property so that it is not occupied again and ensures that it will be assessed if there has been damage to the BIC due to the intervention of González Arroyo.
  
• The president of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, Sergio Lloret, has launched this Thursday a message to the mayor of La Oliva, Pilar González, about the Casa del Inglés, which his father, the former mayor Domingo González Arroyo, fenced irregularly despite being owned by the Island Corporation.
  
  "We want the City Council of La Oliva to act responsibly and committed to the general interest of Fuerteventura, of the neighbors of the municipality, after the effort of many years and to make this jewel of the history of the Island part of the public heritage," said Lloret.
  The Cabildo, which this Thursday morning has removed the fence placed by the family of the mayor and the poster in which the ownership of the historic property was attributed, although it does not appear as the owner neither in the Registry nor in the Cadastre.
  
• Lloret explained that the City Council of La Oliva has already been informed of the project to build a definitive fence of the property, "in order to guarantee citizen security and the preservation of this piece of high historical value", declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) since 2005.
  
  Although the Consistory has a period of 15 days to respond to the communication of the Cabildo, President Sergio Lloret wished that "you do not have to wait" so much and that "immediately" the City Council chaired by Pilar González process the procedure. In any case, since a municipal license is not necessary, the Consistory could not oppose.
  The president of the Island Corporation insisted that he has also requested the City Council to report "if there was any municipal authorization" for the fencing undertaken last month by the mayor's family. "If it does not exist, it should have put an end to it immediately," reproached Lloret, who also assured that the Cabildo will assess whether "possible damages to the Asset of Cultural Interest" have been caused with the intervention carried out by González Arroyo.
  
• "Moments that have not been easy"
  
  The former mayor of La Oliva has been present in the area while the workers of the Cabildo have dismantled the fence and the poster of the González Arroyo family. Lloret thanked "the presence" of the Civil Guard in some "moments that have not been easy", although he made it clear that they have tried to "avoid" confrontations and incidents, which have not been recorded. Beyond that, according to the sources consulted, González Arroyo verbally addressed the workers of the Cabildo.
  
• To prevent the occupation of the farm from occurring again -in recent days it has been possible to see Domingo González Arroyo inside it-, the president of the Cabildo majorero said that a private security service has been arranged, with the aim of "guaranteeing security" and the "preservation of the Asset of Cultural Interest".
  
  Lloret also stressed that the Cabildo, as an institution, has had to develop the corresponding administrative procedure to intervene and remove the fence of the González Arroyo family. Late Wednesday night, the decree was issued, executed early On Thursday. "The Cabildo has all the legitimacy to act as the owner of the property and the obligation to guarantee the protection of a BIC," Lloret stressed.
  
• Rehabilitation project
  
  The Minister of Historical Heritage, Rayco de León, said for his part that "after so many years of neglect" on the Casa del Inglés, which is in a "ruinous situation", the Cabildo completed the purchase of the property and that now it is time to "push so that the rehabilitation project comes out as soon as possible and is put at the service of the citizens of Fuerteventura" for "cultural" purposes.
  Lloret made it clear that the purchase of the Casa del Inglés was not a "free acquisition" but within the framework of a judicial mediation, after year demanding that the owners of the property, the Manrique de Lara family, "comply with their duty of conservation". In fact, he added, the purchase by the Cabildo, for about 319,000 euros, was made "conditioned to the rehabilitation and commissioning", so that the historic building "can continue to last for future generations".
  
• link for pics
  

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

They propose a contest of ideas for the conservation of the Casa del Inglés in La Oliva.

The councilors of Coalición Canaria have presented a motion in the next plenary session of the Cabildo to promote, through competition, an architectural project that allows the best possible intervention of the Casa del Inglés Cultural Interest, located in the municipality of La Oliva. With this proposal, CC calls for the need to ensure the conservation of the building, with a project that combines in the best way the preservation of its heritage values with its putting into use for the enjoyment of tourists and residents of the island. The motion was adopted unanimously.

According to the nationalist spokeswoman, Lola García, "this property, the Casa del Inglés in La Oliva is a witness to the history of Fuerteventura and therefore we must ensure its consolidation, restoration and rehabilitation. The figure of an architectural project competition is the most appropriate, since it allows to study the different proposals of technical solution for its reconstruction and analyze at the same time the one that best combines the conservation of its values".

The passage of time and lack of maintenance has plunged the monument into a state of disrepair. Therefore, through the motion it is also requested that an emergency intervention be studied to consolidate the property until the winning project of the contest is completed.

The property was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 2005 and was acquired by the Cabildo in October 2021 for its rehabilitation and putting into use. For the counselor Rayco León, "we are facing one of the most emblematic buildings of the heritage of Fuerteventura and it has taken years that it was publicly owned for its service to the population. It is time for all this effort to materialize and become part of the majorera cultural life".

Although the property was acquired by the Cabildo in October 2021 thanks to the work of the Historical Heritage area, since that date it has been in the hands of Lloret and has only delayed an intervention necessary for the consolidation of the emblematic building. "Instead, he has been more interested in other acquisitions and private projects," explains Lola García. Therefore, from the CC group it is requested that an adequate intervention carried out by architects and specialized technicians be put out to tender, which is the most suitable action given the characteristics and values of the property.

The Casa del Inglés is a house of the eighteenth century and is a relevant example of the architecture developed by the rural bourgeoisie, as evidence in addition to the economic and commercial power that settled in La Oliva at the time. A building that was dedicated to many uses, including as a nursing service of the military forces that were located after the Civil War in this town.
Criticism of Sergio Lloret's lack of management
On the other hand, the Canarian Coalition group of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura regrets that Lloret and its government partner still do not bring true management to the Plenary of the insular Corporation, but continue to sell the work done so far by those who were counselors of the different areas until the end of 2022.

In this sense, the nationalist spokesperson celebrates that the Plenary has approved today the adaptation of the strategic plans of subsidies in the areas of social welfare, crafts, culture, education and youth. However, he wants to remember that "this is the result of the work done last year from the Treasury and Economic Promotion, in coordination with the rest of the areas mentioned, in order to increase the items in the budget. More than 10 million are allocated to all these calls for aid."

According to Lola García, "an intense and necessary work has been done to reach all areas and corners with subsidies that are expected as May water by all the people of the Island. It would be acceptable for the government duo (Lloret and Juan Nicolás) to recognize this work done last year from the aforementioned areas and not hang the medal now, when all they have done is approve in plenary a mere procedure to adapt the plans to what had already been agreed in the budget approved in December ".

"Perhaps it is time for the current heads of the Cabildo, in their minority government, to start working truly for the interests of Fuerteventura and stop selling as their own achievements achieved by previous councilors such as the new management and improvement of the Zurita Environmental Complex, the Employment plans or the Mobility and Transport Plan, among many other examples," continues Lola García. "If they are not able to do so, they should consider the option of resigning so that Fuerteventura has the management it deserves."
García concludes by pointing out that "after coming out of a pandemic that especially affected Fuerteventura, we are facing new vicissitudes derived from the economic crisis. Therefore, the island needs concrete management and progress is made with everything worked and achieved so far, instead of the neglect and inefficiency demonstrated in these two and a half months. "


Splitting the thread due to heavy load, Sam.
Link to the second part: Dreamland Studios - Thread no2

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Noticias:

The Cabildo de Fuerteventura puts out to tender the project of reform, restoration and improvement from singular property that acquired last year



The acquisition of this property by the Cabildo was due "to the intention of disposing of this emblematic building, relevant in the cultural heritage of the island," said President Lloret at the time.



The objective of the council is to rehabilitate and restore it to allocate it to public, social and cultural use.



At this moment the tender for this restoration is announced. The process of invitation to companies will have a period of ten working days, counted from the availability in the electronic office.