Old Dry Cod – Vila Nova de Gaia

This time, come to inform a large industrial unit that worked in Vila Nova de Gaia and who contributed greatly to our economy and the well being of the inhabitants of the place Washers. I am talking about the old and well known Seca do Washers Cod – Vila Nova de Gaia.

For a brief overview of this plant, once again turned to the Gaia Chamber of Historical Archives, analyzing it for the enlargement processes dated 1959 (Proc.147 and 6989).

In the years 40, a Socidade National Shipowners Cod - SNAB, he built , by the beach-cleaners in Canidelo, Vila Nova de Gaia, an industrial structure with 15 hectares, dedicada to unicamente drying and preparation of cod.

The facilities were inaugurated in 1945, getting situated in an elevated area of ​​land with privileged views of the sea and to the entrance of the Douro River Bar. During the “my ride” I found that even there in one of the walls a commemorative plaque, celebrating 15 years of "life" of that plant, placed at a Shipowners' Association Congress .

Mirrored by the ground can still be seen on the pillars aligned parallel stone, which were previously connected to each other by a network of wires where workers cod placed to dry in the sun .

After some expansion work occurred in the years 60, this structure now has enviable working conditions for the season, taking into account that the majority of employees were female.

Thus, were built a dining room separated rooms (men / women), a nursery, a medical facility, a nursing room, a dormitory for babies, spaces for breastfeeding and proceeding to clean the babies, rest room and game room. In addition to these blessings the factory also had a small pool to enjoy their employees, but do not know under what conditions it worked the access level.

These facilities were many inhabitants of the place of washers and many parishes of Vila Nova de Gaia, and also the city of Porto, earned their livelihood. By the accounts of those who lived that time, this factory had more thousand workers, including women as stated, whose function was to carry the cod drying for warehouses and vice versa through wheelbarrows, what usually happened in the morning and evening, and always before the arrival of fogs very prevalent here in this area. Drying warehouses also had to support 4 cold rooms.

In addition to the above, the owners of this factory also sent build a chapel, called for S.Pedro , where it was performed the religious assistance to its workers. This chapel was built in modern style shell-shaped having an interior decoration alluding to sea motifs. Although built in the grounds of Drought, this chapel has always maintained the Catholic worship with regular opening to the presence of faithful Scrubbers Place, initially focusing on elderly and later the remaining inhabitants of the place.

Going to the chapel spared its inhabitants a walk of a few kilometers to attend the Sunday Eucharist, since, for this purpose, had been moving to the Parish Church of Canidelo.

After entering in your facility, I was pleasantly surprised by a number of high quality graffiti, as can be seen in photographs 29 a 35 appended. Note-se , you too, that all land currently used for the development / promotion of entertainment activities, such as paintball games, airsoft and even motocross training.

Due to the deactivation of this plant, this land will (or have ever been) sold by the State to a real estate company, whose project will enable the construction of several residential buildings of two to six floors and a hotel.

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