There’s a school here in Premià de Mar that I always enjoy walking past. It’s a handsome Modernista building that’s next to impossible to photograph, set as it is in narrow streets and surrounded by a high wall. It wasn’t always a school.
It was built in 1898 as a textile factory, dealing with almost every process: spinning, weaving and finishing. But here, as in England, and in the Ariège where we once lived, this once-thriving industry declined rapidly during the twentieth century. The factory closed in 1928, but re-opened in a last gasp attempt to make it work, as a silk-sceen printing works, the first of its kind in Spain. The owner was a man from Lyon, a M. Badoy, and locals came to call the factory La Lyon. The factory was forced to close its doors for good in 1979, but everyone saw that this important building must be saved, for historic and artistic reasons. So it reopened as a school in 1984. And it’s now called La Lió, and is quite the local landmark, with its tall – and entirely unused these days – factory chimney.
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
Fabulous. Just love all the detailed brickwork. I guess they have to keep that chimney in good repair!
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Wonderful brickwork!
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It really is. And so fresh-looking.
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Beautiful brickwork. A bit of Moorish influence with those windows maybe.
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Maybe indeed. Modernism was quite eclectic in Spain.
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Wonderful that it’s been saved and put to good use. There are numerous factories and chimneys around the Algarve, and not all of them have been so lucky. Love the enhanced brickwork, Margaret.
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The brickwork is great! Yep, deserted factories all over Europe, sadly.
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Always good to see a building repurposed.
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Especially as well as this one has been.
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wow – you did amazingly well to get that in a square!
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Gotta be done.
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That is not the place to work as a chimney sweep 😲
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DEFINITELY not!
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There are so many stories that happened within these amazing walls.
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Indeed. Ad now a new history is being written.
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It is important to preserve these unique reminders of past local history and what it represents.
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Absolutely! Especially when the building is attractive and important in its own right .
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I love those bricks. I wonder if a wide-angle lens would get you the whole building. Great photos.
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That’s worth a try. For these posts though I am only using my mobile to get the posts up with the leadt possible trouble.
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I thought the sign said TESCO!
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I see your point. Luckily, you’re wrong!
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That’s a very attractive building, I’m glad it’s been put to good use!
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Me too. It’s well wot hanging on to.
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Beautiful brick works! The details are incredible. Thank you for the tour, Margaret!
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I wish we could all see inside!
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