ARCHIVED - Eclectic collection for new museum in Mazarrón

The Museo Antonio Paredes holds the collection of this homage to Mazarrón

Motorbikes, recreations of local shops, and an extensive display of mining memorabilia

A new museum has opened in Mazarrón dedicated to the mining industry which was responsible for the growth and prosperity of the town in the past, and is named after the man whose efforts have made it possible to display such a wide range of exhibits under one roof, Antonio Paredes.

A large crowd attended the opening ceremony of an establishment which will doubtless prove to be of interest to both residents and visitors, and heard Sr Paredes explaining that when young men died as a consequence of asphyxiation or accidents in the mines and people saw the Guardia Civil arriving to inform the bereaved, the experience was one that stayed with them for ever. In his case the memories have remained deeply etched in his mind, and over the years the desire has grown in him to do something for the miners, hence his decision to create a museum in memory of so many good people who lost their lives in the mines of Mazarrón.

But part of the charm of this museum lies in the fact that it goes beyond mining to explore other ethnographic aspects, with recreations of a barber’s shop, a carpenter’s workshop, a kitchen and a general store from the past. In this way visitors can take a trip to the Mazarrón of years gone by, a tribute not only to the miners but also to the everyday traders and craftsmen who brought the streets of the town alive.

The museum also includes a model of the castle which now lies in ruins behind the town hall, but once represented the power and status of the Marqués de Los Veléz, as well as an impressive collection of restored motorcycles and memorabilia and tools relating to the mining past of the town, alongside documentation and photographs which conserve the history of the town.

The setting up of the museum has required a lot of preparation, with many hours spent so that the mining artefacts, the restored motorcycles, the models and the representations of different tradesmen and women can be seen in their best light. Antonio Paredes may be entirely self-taught in this respect, but José María López Ballesta of the local Universidad Popular praises the “intellectual precision” which has made it possible for him to show us the past in such an accessible and understandable way.

At the moment the opening hours are yet to be confirmed as this is a privately owned concern. The full address and opening hours will be published once this information is made available.

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