PROJECT FOR THE RESTORATION AND SHORING UP OF THE ANCIENT CÁÑAMO BRICK SMOKESTACK

La Rinconada Town Hall is the beneficiary entity of the expected grants in the LEADER Local Development Strategy, part of sub-measure 19.2 of the 2014-2020 Andalusian Programme for Rural Areas Development for the “Project for the Restoration and Shoring Up of the Ancient Cáñamo Brick Smokestack”. This project is co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD); the Regional Ministry for Agriculture, Livestock Farming, Fishery, and Sustainable Development of the Regional Government of Andalusia; and La Rinconada Town Hall.

The Ancient Cáñamo Brick Smokestack is part of our industrial heritage. It dates from the early days of the municipality’s economy, specifically from the first third of the 20th century. Moreover, it stands 64.20 metres high and is the only remaining structure from the first sugar factory in our municipality, which was lately turned into a hemp and textile fibre factory.

Hence, this brick smokestack is not only a symbol of our sugar industry past but also of the economic development of our municipality. It stands as one of the most representative historical monuments in the San José de La Rinconada area. The Ancient Cáñamo Brick Smokestack is a key remnant of our labour culture, embodying the identity of our inhabitants with a specific production facility and the industrial buildings that gave rise to the first workers' settlement around the factory.

Given the significance of the monument, its age, and the presence of damage, La Rinconada Town Hall conducted research that highlighted the need to preserve and protect our municipality’s industrial heritage. This includes remembering the history and importance of this monument in our urban development.

The project involved a series of actions aimed at providing the Ancient Cáñamo Brick Smokestack, an iconic symbol of La Rinconada's industrial landscape, and its surroundings with the necessary structural conditions to ensure stability and to meet the security requirements for its maintenance and conservation. The total budget for this project was €627,630.79.

Following a complex engineering intervention, due to the unique nature of the monument, the restoration work on the Cáñamo Tower (as it is commonly known) has been completed. The brick smokestack now stands fully restored, showcasing its original appearance.