Today we'll do some digging into history.
We live in an interesting house with a (probably) rich history. But, it's not that easy to find out much about that rich history. However, just did an interesting find in Google Books: an entry in the "DICCIONARIO DE ESPAÑA Y SUS POSESIONES DE ULTRAMAR.", Tomo II, página 327. That is a collection of 15 very big volumes, 600-700 pages per volume, published in Madrid in 1845 by Pascual Madoz, and more extensive in Spanish. Have a look yourself: the page with Antas. It is a kind of "Domesday Book", but of Spain, and less old.
Google did the scanning of these books quite well. The pdf has, besides the scanned pages, the OCR interpretation too. So, you can search in the text, and automatically translate the parts you are interested in.
We had lessons Spanish (hi Pilar!), but this is old-fashioned Spanish, and it's not that easy to understand what they say. Some terms are translated wrong, like the name of the town "Vera", nearby, which becomes "Verity" or "Will see". And "pago Del Real" becomes "Payment of the real", instead of "settlement El Real". And, the word 'avenida" is translated as "avenue", instead of irrigation-water-channel.
Below is the Spanish text I extracted and edited a bit (OCR is not 100% correct), and it's English translation.
Interesting for us is the bit:
: The greater inundation known therein took place in the
1831, Which caused havoc of great consideration in The whole bank,
without which when this happens they can avoid it
In any way by the great slope that brings in its course
: For the irrigation of the estates of La Vega are not used nor
Can take advantage of the water-channels, doing only with sources
Which drain into it, which are also used in flour mills
that are built on their margins.
OCR-ed Spanish:
"ANTAS
: v. con ayunt. en la prov. , adm. de rent. y dióc.
de Almería (18 horas), part. jud. de Vera (3/4), aud. terr. y
c. g. de Granada (40), departamento marit.de Cartagena, distr.
de Garrucha : sit. en un entrellano en la márg. der. de un
arroyo que corre de O. á E. , en parage bien ventilado y mas
propenso que á otras enfermedades , á calenturas inflamatorías
y á tercianas que á veces se hacen endémicas ,
producidas por las exhalaciones de algunos pantanos que se forman
en toda la estension del arroyo espresado. El casco do la v.
lo forman 318 casas, y en el campo se hallan 206, todas de
una altura de 4 á 6 varas, y do poca comodidad
: su única
plaza, llamada de la Constitución, es cuadrilonga,
de 40 varas de long. y 20 de lat. , y se hallan en ella las casas de
concejo , la cárcel y una posada, todo perteneciente á propios
: las calles, que por algo pendientes y tortuosas , son
algún tanto incómodas, aunque no estan empedradas, se hallan
por lo común limpias
: el pósito está totalmente arruinado , por
cuya razón se depositan sus existencias en una
casa particular alquilada á eleccion del ayunt. ; sus fondos
consisten en 732 fan. 10 celemines 2 y 1/2 cuartillas de trigo,
v 9,137 rs. 2 mrs. en dinero efectivo; todo en débitos incobrables
en su mayor parto por su remota procedencia
: hay una escuela de primeras letras, dotada con 1,100 rs. del fondo
de propios y arbitrios , cuyo maestro enseña á leer, escribir ,
contar y rudimentos de doctrina cristiana á los 45 niños que
concurren ; igl. parr. de 2.º ascenso, fundada en 26
de mayo de 1505, dedicada á la Concepción y servida por
un cura, un teniente, un beneficiado y un sacristán; 2 ermitas ,
la una urbana y la otra rural , aquella con la
advocación de San Roque, patrono del pueblo , y esta con
la de Ntra. Sra. de la Cabeza, cuyo reparo y servicio se
sostiene por una capellania familiar ; cementerio al O. estramuros
de la pobl. que en nada perjudica á la salubridad ; y aunque
no existe fuente alguna pública, las hay de abundantes
y buenas aguas, propias de las haciendas ó pagos que suelen
beneficiar, y de ellas se surte el vecindario para el uso
doméstico y abrevadero de los ganados. El térm. confina por N.
con el de Zurgena y Cuevas , E. con el de la c. de Vera, S.
con el de Turre y Bédar , y O. con el de Lubrin
: en él se
encuentran 206 casas ó cortijos todos diseminados, y abraza
1,200 fan. de tierra de secano, y 230 de riego en las riberas
del arroyo , y en el pago del Real que se riega con norias
: 2 fan. de las que disfrutan de este beneficio han sido desamortizadas
en la segunda época constitucional , pertenecientes
al conv. de mínimos de San Francisco de Paula de la с. de
Vera. El terreno es en parte montuoso y lo restante llano, y
aunque varia en muchas clases , generalmente es flojo
: los principales montes son , la Torre de Ballabona que se halla
al N. de la v. ; el Puntal y el Serrón , entre N. y O. ; y El
Cabezo de Maria al S , y todos están aislados escepto el Serron
, que corre para el term. de Lubrin cerca de 1/2 leg..
Como á 200 varas de la v. cruza el mencionado arroyo liamado
r. de Antas en dirección de O. á E., el cual nace en el
térm. de Lubrin
: su cáuce es por lo común llano, y rara vez
se desborda tanto, que cause daños á las heredades contiguas
: la mayor avenida que en él se ha conocido tuvo lugar en el
año 1831, la cual causó estragos de grande consideración en
toda la ribera , sin que cuando esto sucede puedan évitarlo
de modo alguno por el mucho declive que trae en su curso
: para el riego de las haciendas de la Vega no se emplean ni
pueden aprovecharse las avenidas, haciéndolo solo con fuentes
que desaguan en él , las cuales también se utilizan en los molinos
harineros que hay construidos en sus márg.
: los caminos son
locales ; el que dirige a Vera y demás pueblos limítrofes es
carretero; los demás son de herradura y generalmente se hallan
en mal estado
: la correspondencia de todas
las prov. . llega los lunes, miércoles y sábados á la una de la
tarde, y sale á las 5 de la misma en iguales días
: el de la
de Almería se recibe los martes y viernes á las 11 de su mañana ,
y sale en los mismos días á las 5 de la tarde. PROD.
: aunque en corta cantidad para el consumo del vecindario,
trigo, cebada, panizo, centeno, garbanzos , cáñamo , lino,
habas, vino, aceite, higos, legumbres en abundancia, y frutas
de todo género, pues todo el arbolado de este térm.
es frutal , escepto un corto número de álamos
: hay caza de
conejos y perdices, y algunos lobos y zorras
: la grangeria se halla en el mayor abandono
: y como estan
escaso el número de ganado lanar , cabrio y vacuno , se importa
el que faltade la c. de Vera
Pobl. 575 vec. 2,300 hab., los que de ellos
no se dedican á la agricultura , salen á Estremadura y
Malaga á trabajar
: existen 12 molinos harineros, 2 alfarerías,
3 fáb. de salitre y una de jabón. Los efectos de vestir se importan
do las prov. limítrofes , escepto el lienzo , que se
fabrica en las casas particulares
: se trabajan algunas minas
plomizas y de cobre; y no puede saberse la utilidad de cada
una por estar en los primeros trabajos
: materia imp. para
el impuesto directo, 157,168 rs.
: capacidad indirecta por
consumos , 47,258 rs. El presupuesto municipal ordinario
asciende anualmente á 14 ó 15,000 rs. , y se cubre por
repartimiento vecinal , escepto 5 rs. que pagan dos sitios en
que se reedificaron dos hornos de pan cocer, y de 3 á 400 rs.
que producen las rent, de la centenilla, del viento y almotacén
que se subasta á favor de este ramo."
The automatic translation to English:
"ANTAS
: V. With ayunt. In the prov. , Adm. Of rent. And dióc.
Of Almería (18 hours), part. Jud. Of Vera (3/4), aud. Terr. Y
C. G. Of Granada (40), department marit.de Cartagena, distr.
Of Garrucha: sit. In a mezzanine on the marg. Der. of a
Stream running from O. to E., in a well ventilated area and more
Prone to other diseases, to inflammatory fever
And to tercianas that sometimes become endemic,
Produced by the exhalations of some marshes that form
In all the extension of the stream expressed. The hull of the v.
It consists of 318 houses, and in the countryside there are 206, all
A height of 4 to 6 sticks, and little comfort
: Its only
Square, call of the Constitution, is quadrilonga,
Of 40 sticks long. And 20 lat. , And there are the houses of
Council, a prison and an inn, all belonging to the
:
The streets, which are somewhat sloping and tortuous, are
Some uncomfortable, although they are not paved, are
Usually clean
: The deposit is totally ruined, for
Whose stock is deposited in a
Private house rented to the election of the ayunt. ; Your funds
Consist of 732 fans. 10 bushels 2 and 1/2 pages of wheat,
V 9.137 rs. 2 mrs. In cash; All in bad debts
For the most part due to its remote origin
: There is a school of first letters, endowed with 1,100 rs. From the bottom
Of own and excuses, whose teacher teaches to read, to write,
And rudiments of Christian doctrine to the 45 children who
Concur; Igl. Parr. Of 2nd promotion, founded in 26
Of May 1505, dedicated to the Conception and served by
A priest, a benefactor, and a sexton; 2 hermitages,
The one urban and the other rural, that with the
Of San Roque, patron of the town, and is with
That of Ntra. Sra. De la Cabeza, whose repair and service
Holds for a family chaplaincy; Graveyard
Of the population. Which in no way injures health; And although
There is no public source, there are abundant
And good waters, typical of the haciendas or payments that usually
Benefit from, and the neighborhood is used to use them
Domestic and livestock trough. The term. Confines by N.
With that of Zurgena and Cuevas, E. with that of the c. really.
With that of Turre and Bédar, and O. with that of Lubrin
: in the he
Find 206 houses or cortijos all scattered, and embraces
1,200 fans. Of dry land, and 230 irrigation on the banks
Of the brook, and in the settlement of El Real which is watered with norias
: 2 fan. Of those who enjoy this benefit have been confiscated
In the second constitutional period, belonging
To conv. Of San Francisco de Paula minimums of the с. from
Vera. The terrain is partly hilly and the rest flat, and
Although it varies in many classes, it is generally loose
: The main mountains are, the Tower of Ballabona that is found
To N. of v. ; The Puntal and the Serrón, between N. and O.; and the
Head of Maria to the S, and all are isolated except the Serron
, Which runs for the term. Of Lubrin about 1/2 leg ..
As to 200 sticks of v. Crosses the aforementioned stream
R. Of Antas in the direction of O. to E., which
Term. From Lubrin
: Its causeway is usually flat, and rarely
Is so overflowing that it causes damage to neighboring estates
:
The largest inundation known to him took place in the
1831, which caused great damage on the whole bank,
without that when this happens they can avoid it
In no way because of the much decline it brings in its course
:
For the irrigation of the estates of La Vega are not used nor
Can take advantage of the water channels, doing only with sources
Which drain into it, which are also used in mills
Flour mills that are built on their margins.
: The roads are
local ; The one that directs to Vera and other bordering towns is
for carriages; The others are for horseshoe and are generally found
In bad condition
: The correspondence of all
The prov. . Arrives on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at one o'clock
Late, and leaves at 5 o'clock on the same day
: The one of the
Of Almeria is received on Tuesday and Friday at 11 o'clock in the morning,
And leaves on the same day at 5 pm. PROD.
:
Although in short amount for the consumption of the neighborhood,
Wheat, barley, panizo, rye, chickpeas, hemp, flax,
Beans, wine, oil, figs, legumes in abundance, and fruits
Of all kinds, because all the trees of this term.
They are fruit trees, except for a few poplars
There is a hunt for
Rabbits and partridges, and some wolves and foxes
:
Grangeria is in the greatest abandonment
: and how are they
Scarce the number of cattle wool, cabrio and cattle, is imported
The one lacking the c. really
Population 575 vec. 2,300 rooms, those of them
They are not engaged in agriculture, they go to Estremadura and
Malaga to work
: There are 12 flour mills, 2 pottery,
3 f. Of saltpeter and one of soap. The effects of dress are imported
Of the prov. Boundaries, except for the canvas,
Manufactures in private homes
: Some mines are being worked
Lead and copper; And the usefulness of each
One to be in the early works
Russian for
The direct tax, 157,168 rs.
: Indirect capacity for
Consumption, 47,258 rs. The ordinary municipal budget
Amounts annually to 14 or 15,000 rs. , And is covered by
Neighborhood distribution, except 5 rs. Which pay two sites in
That two bakeries were rebuilt, and from 3 to 400 rs.
That produce the rent, of the centenilla, of the wind and almotacén
Which is auctioned in favor of this branch. "
