History of Pilas

The municipality of Batteries is located in the western end of the province of Seville, being adjacent with the one of Huelva. One locates in the space of transition between the Aljarafe and the salt marshes of Doñana. In 1.996 its population promoted 11,122 inhabitants.

The origins of this population are in the Roman villa of Pilias, of which different archaeological rest are conserved. With the visigodos it decays remarkably, being reused at Muslim time like farmhouse, a small dependent agricultural operation of Aznalcázar. In 1.247, Pelay Strap, master of the Order of Santiago, receives these earth for Corona of Castile. In 1.253 it happens to depend like village of the Council of Seville. In 1.892 it obtains his condition of independent municipality completely.

The urban nucleus is based on a slope inclined to the east, between the levels of 50 and 80 meters. Towards the Southeastern a small lowest part of valley forms, that constitutes a drainage element towards the Alcarayón stream, empties natural towards the salt marshes. It occupies a strategic geographic position, as it crosses of the ways of union between Aznalcázar and Hinojos and Carrión Villamanrique, which motivates that drinking troughs are constructed in this place or "batteries" for the cattle.

During the times Roman and Arab an authentic urban nucleus does not get to form. The existence of three tower-oil mills in the interior of the helmet demonstrates its origin like agricultural operation. The primitive nucleus of the urban establishment agrees with the small hermitage to mudéjar of Santiago Greater (transformed into century XVIII in hermitage of Bethlehem) and the corresponding Seat of Bethlehem. Batteries live in century XVI a great economic and demographic development, in spite of as the establishment does not surpass the dimension of a village. Century XVII is of stagnation.

In the middle of century XVIII one begins the construction of the Parochial Church, that both locates in the intersection of axes computers of the urban plot, East-West and the north-south. Next to the church the City council is built, and in the surroundings of both constructions the spaces are grouped more significant public of the present historical center: the seats of the Church, the Town hall, Bethlehem and the Greater Seat. The expansion of century XVIII, with a clear predominance of the South direction, takes place by the prolongation of the streets that come together in the Seat of Bethlehem.

During century XIX, the direction of the growth changes towards the north, throughout the axis that connects the Greater Seat with the one of Bethlehem and extending until the Seat de la Cruz. In this point the confluence of six radial streets takes place, agreeing one of them (the Stroll of Independence) with the way of Carrión. In second half of century XIX a triangular wedge in the Southeastern angle of the population forms, to the south of the way of Seville, arising a street in the direction of the lowest part of valley. This expansion can be an identifiable historical persistence with an old way to the wharf, that would communicate with the then navigable channel of the Guadiamar.

During century XX, Batteries live a progressive industrialization that attracts numerous immigrants, causing an important demographic increase. In 1.914 the working quarter is inaugurated, that builds the streets that come together in the present Seat of the Constitution. The Cross of the Humilladero, traditional limit of the construction of the town is transferred more towards the east, on the way of Aznacázar, like recognition of the urban extension in that direction. In years 30 it is been satisfied an industrial estate to the south of the way of Seville. Towards 1,950 a group of subsidized houses is constructed in the western end of the population to locate to the workers of the different factories. At the end of that decade the district of Baretas arises in the noroccidental sector, of plot reticular, and occupied in its majority by modest houses of autoconstrucción. In 1.961 it is inaugurated the ample complex of buildings and sport zones of the Seminary Our Mrs. of Bethlehem, located towards the south, beyond the industrial area and on the way of Villamanrique. In the last years one has taken place in the historical center a growth in height and a change in the tipologías edificatorias.

The nucleus of Batteries presents/displays at the present time a certain radial morphology, although it does not complete. The urban growth from the original nucleus has taken place in different directions, following the ways of exit of the locality, but mainly towards the north (way of Carrión), the east (Seville) and the west (Hinojos).

Between its constructions of artistic historical interest they emphasize the Parochial Church of Santa Maria the Greater one (century XVIII), the hermitage of Our Mrs. of Bethlehem, the satately Library and some houses.

History