Azucarera Montañesa-Lechera Montañesa (Torrelavega,Cantabria): industrial failures, great heritage value

Abstract

In 2019, the Government of Cantabria initiated a file for the declaration of the La Lechera de Torrelavega building as a Cultural Asset with the category of monument.The objective of this paper is to know the history of this relevant centenary building and establish its equity valuation.Unfortunately, not much documentation has been kept about the building and its successive owners in the historical archives, so the daily press has been consulted.Its industrial history began in 1899 as a sugar factory by the Azucarera Montañesa.After two decades of activity, the factory closed without reaching the initially planned objectives. In 1926 the building was rehabilitated and transformed into a factory of condensed milk and dairy products by its new owner the Sociedad Lechera Montañesa. After several years closed, in 1985 the building became the headquarters of the Cantabria Trade Fair. Once the fair activity is finished, the building lacks continued use, although there are several projects for its rehabilitation for cultural purposes