Casa de los Ingleses

About the museum

In 1873 a group of British investors bought the Riotinto mines and founded the Riotinto Company Limited. Sulphur dioxide emissions from the mining harmed the health of the mine residents, so in the early 1880s the company began sending its British employees to rest in a group of houses on the beach of Punta Umbría. Between 1882 and 1917, fourteen wooden buildings on stilts were erected there, known as the Barrio de Salud (Health Quarter), the town's first permanent settlement.

Over time, the summer habits of the British were copied by other groups, and Punta Umbría became a summer destination for people from Huelva and all of Andalusia. The original houses disappeared in the late 20th century, between the seventies and the early eighties, but their construction model inspired many buildings in the town.

The Casa de los Ingleses was built at the beginning of the 21st century to a design inspired by that model, and functions as an interpretation centre for the British heritage of the province. Room 1 explains the history of the British in Punta Umbría and their legacy, while room 2 faithfully reproduces one of the houses, furnished with period furniture, and receives donations from individuals to expand the collection.

Highlights

• Room 1 on the history and legacy of the British in Punta Umbría
• Room 2 with a reconstruction of a house from the Health Quarter
• Period furniture and objects donated by individuals
• Timber architecture on stilts inspired by the Rio Tinto Company houses

Permanent exhibitions

• Sala 1: la presencia británica en Punta Umbría – History of the British in the town, their cultural and material legacy, the reasons for building the houses on the beach and the features of their construction type.
• Sala 2: reconstrucción de una casa – Faithful replica of one of the houses, with its rooms and period furniture, to imagine how the mining company's employees spent their summers.

Operated by

Ayuntamiento de Punta Umbría

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is completely free.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

Getting there & parking

The house is located on Avenida Ciudad de Huelva, the main access road to Punta Umbría from Huelva.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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