Fabricas Hidraulicas Españolas
Full details
| English title | Spanish Hydrualic Factories |
| Authors & editors | |
| Publisher | Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Urbanismo |
| Year of publication | 1992 |
| Languages | Spanish (main text) |
| Medium | Book |
| Edition | 1 |
| ISBN | 8475062148 |
| Topics | |
| Tags | |
| Scope & content | Summary Translation: A book on the history of water- specifically hydraulic power in Spanish territories. The first chapter gives information on ‘water in the antiguo (antiquity) world.’ Gives information on ancient canal systems. Specifically mentions Eupalinos who created a canal to supply water to the town of Samos. Information on the evidence of this supplied by Herodotus. Describes the plan of the canal and how well it functioned. Includes a section on urban supply (of water) in Roman Spain. Gives information on the sources of the diverse documents used to learn about this period. Includes maps, diagrams, tables and images of these. Chapter two- focuses on the Middle Ages- the development of mills and milling during this time- specifically hydro-powered mills (water mills/ water wheels). Information on key people including Mercedes Durany- who studied an important Leon monastery in San Pedro de Montes between 900-1275 and determined the social level of the owners of the water mills. Garcia de Cortazar- looks at his work on mill machinery- from the tenth to thirteenth century. Includes extracts from other important people of the period detailing the ownership of various water mills- including heritage, inherited mills). Also includes extracts from written works on the elements of mills- their mechanical structures, their different types etc. Chapter three; focuses on ironworks, coin works- construction of coinage. Gives information on the buildings and machinery; from key pieces of literature and diagrams. Shows the introduction of iron works in Spain. Chapter four- looks at factories- also includes a section on the origins of different types of ovens. Chapter 5- flour mills- fabrication of flour. Images of ruins of flour mills- information on canals and water turbines used to power the mills. Information on how the flour was created and stored. Includes key historical extracts from the period. Chapter 6- oil mills, fruit presses and other types of mills. Sugar mills. Mineral mills- mercury etc. ceramics, glass, rice, tobacco. Chapter 7- Focuses on paper mills and factories to produce paper. Origins of paper production across the world but mostly Spain. Paper production in the Middle Ages. Dutch inventions in paper making and changes to the industry- equipment, needs, and demands. All sections include extracts from manuscripts and other sources. Mentions other Spanish produce (paper-related) Cordoba- region. Paular monastery. Includes specific examples of mills, for example, the San Fernando mill in Henares (Madrid). Chapter 8- gives information on nitre works and gunpowder mills. Origins in the Iberian peninsula- gives the social and economic aspects of the industry. Discusses obtaining items such as potassium nitrate, carbon for the gunpowder and the fabrication of the gunpowder. Also includes a section on the security in the fabrication of gunpowder. Chapter 9- focuses on ingenious textiles- textile milling. Includes sections on processing and manufacturing wool, the important history of wool in Spain, and the history of cloth and rags etc. includes a section on the general characteristics of the fabrics created in the eighteenth century, includes sections on key textile mills- in Brihuega, Guadalajara, and San Fernando. Information on the silk industry- looks closely at silk mills; where materials were sourced, elements that changed over time (machinery etc.). Information on cotton manufacturing/ manufacturing- key people, places, industrial changes etc. Chapter 10- discusses differences and alterations made to public work (mechanisms, new inventions for regulating and transforming machinery and social aspects of working in mills/ factories.) Mostly mechanical alterations. Includes key extracts from historical sources, images, photographs and tables. Appendix 1- looks at the typographical evolution of the water wheels. Looks at mathematical theories etc. Appendix 2- looks at the hydraulic turbines- their development etc. |
Copies held
Accession no. 229943
- Shelf location: F405-TAS