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The Web Site of Don and Faith Gaunt

I guess that most personal web sites are a way for that individual or individuals to show off their achievements. I rather think that this one is no exception! However, as well as showing off, most sites also try to contain things that are informative or interesting. Again, I hope that this will prove to be the case here. The site is called "Faydon" because although most of the stuff here is written by me I would have got nowhere without the help and support of my wife.

Don

So what is here that might interest or inform? The following topics are those I intend to include. As they are written, links to giving further information will be included.

If you see any errors or additions or you would just like to chat, you can contact me on don at faydon dot com (written out to avoid auto spammers).

To go quickly to the different sections below, click on the appropriate topic in the following list. Where more information is included, a link will appear in that section.

Archaeology in Almerķa   Croquet   Unusual Plants

Steam Railways

We have researched the remains of three old railways.


MaltaRlwy The Malta Railway

This went from the capital, Valletta to the old city of Rabat. It was about 7 miles (12 km) long and ran from 1883 to 1931. Surprisingly, after all this time, there are still many things to see. On the left is Birkirkara station which has had the facade restored to its original state.

More on Malta

Jersey The Jersey Eastern Railway

There were two passenger lines on Jersey, both starting from St Helier. The Eastern Railway went to Gorey, while the Western went to La Corbiere. Not a great deal of the track remains but most of the stations are now private houses and can easily be seen from the road.The picture shows a painting of a JER train leaving Gorey Village for St Helier.

GSSR The Great Southern of Spain Railway (The GSSR).

The Railway, situated mostly in the Spanish Province of Almerķa, was built by a British Company in the 1880s. The line survived for 100 years but British interest ceased with the seizing of the line in 1936 (The start of the Spanish Civil War).

The picture shows one of the Mercer engines used in the line's construction(Photo by Lawrence Marshal).

I have written a book about this line, click below for details.

More about the GSSR

Home   Steam Railways   Croquet   Unusual Plants

Almerķan Industrial Archaeology

From pre-Roman times to the present day, Almerķa has been a rich source of minerals. However it was the hundred years between 1850 and 1950 that saw the largest exploitation of this natural wealth. Lead mining saw a brief expansion but it was iron ore that was to produce the real boom. Mining companies mushroomed everywhere. Unfortunately Spain was politically unstable and this, coupled with wars both internally and abroad combined to kill off most companies. Finally, by the 1960s, with seams running out, everything closed. Today, the only successful mining being carried out is for marble.

This Map shows the location of the sites described. Click on the map to enlarge it.

Adra Port

Adra Port Railway

Although this short line was built in 1916 purely to construct the port, surprisingly, some artifacts still remain.

Lead Mine

Adra lead factory

Only the chimney now survives, near to the tourist office.

Sugar Factory Adra Sugar Factory

A notice says that the site will be preserved as an industrial monument but there is little sign of this happening yet.

Salt Works Salt Manufacture

Although most of the salt factories in Almerķa have ceased or been built over, one still functions on the outskirts of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. The picture shows the remains of a factory near Roquetas de Mar.

More on Salt Manufacture

El Cable Ingles The Alquife Mining Company

This company was the largest of those mining iron ore in the province and survived the longest (into the early 1970s) The picture shows the huge structure, known locally as "El Cable Ingles", which was the loading bay for ships arriving at the port.

Baird Way The Baird Mining Company

Although it took a similar route to the Alquife Mining Company, the Baird Company was never as successful. The track has completely gone and only the unattractive loading pier remains. My photograph looks along the line of the track and shows a modern sculpture representing "The freedom of the Press".

Engine Shed The Alhamilla Mines

A small and largely unsuccessful attempt to mine iron ore in the Sierra Alhamilla a few miles north of Almerķa. Illustrated are the remains of the engine shed.

More on The Alhamilla Line

Millares Kiln Los Millares

Although a bronze age settlement a few miles north ofAlmerķa Los Millares can still claim to be industrial archaeology since, as the picture shows, they smelted copper here.

Gold Works Rodalquilar

Situated in the heart of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park was a gold mine. Several attempts were made to make this a profitable one but with no great success.

Bedar Monument Bedar

This was a huge area for mining, initially for lead, then iron ore. The remains of many tunnels, hoppers and railway track beds still exist even though mining ceased 50 years ago.The picture shows a monument to the miners in Bedar Town.

Amarga Loading Bay Lucainena to Agua Amarga Mining Line

There are many artifacts left to see both at the Agua Amarga loading bay (pictured) and the mine works at Lucainena. Much of the old trackway is left and some of it has been turned into a footpath.

More on Lucainena and Agua Amarga

Herrerias The mines of the Sierra Almagrera

Home   Steam Railways   Archaeology in Almerķa   Unusual Plants

Croquet

My Chosen sport has for many years been croquet. I have played internationally and represented England on a number of occasions. The link below will take you to the Bear of Rodborough Croquet Club web site.

More on croquet

Home   Steam Railways   Archaeology in Almerķa   Croquet

Unusual Plants

Faith and I collect Air Plants, Cacti and Insectivorous Plants. I intend to include more later.

Air Plant

Some air plant pictures

Insectiverous Plant