From Belfast to Buitrón

I left Belfast in 1989 on my z750 Kawasaki with the intention of travelling and working my way around Europe. When I got to Huelva I was blown away by the landscapes, beaches, gastronomy and way of life, and decided to stay for a whole year, and then another, and I’m still here today.

But I wasn’t the first forastero in these far-flung lands. Just over 100 years before me, there was an influx of British mining companies that came in search of mineral wealth—mainly copper and sulphur—to feed the voracious demand of the industrial revolution. The Huelva Gazette is the story of that time, the crucible of cultures that resulted and the legacy they left behind.

The Huelva Gazette

In the section The Huelva Chronicles you can find my research, an extensive selection of original 19th century newspaper articles and documents that help to put things in perspective, understand the mindsets and the events that shaped the period. This is firsthand information as it was published in its day, untainted by modern opinions or interpretations, it is the information that was available to people at that time.

In the section entitled Perspectives you can find a more analytical modern approach to those events. Keep in mind that these reports are from my own perspective, clearly biased and guided by my Northern Ireland Presbyterian upbringing, and deeply influenced by my 35 year fascination with the vibrant culture and way of life in Huelva.

19th Century Huelva Today is the section where I indulge in my passions for photography and exploration into the vestiges of that era that can still be seen today.

My experience is that the deeper you go into this story of Huelva and the wider world, the more surprising and fascinating it becomes.

Enjoy!