English House renovation completes first phase
The Cabildo of Fuerteventura has finished the first phase of works to restore the Casa del Inglés in the municipality of La Oliva, investing €650,000 to stabilize the building’s structure.
According to the island’s governing body, this initial intervention focused on the roof and façade, aiming to guarantee the safety and stability of the historic house as a prerequisite for a comprehensive rehabilitation project and its future use.
“It is a fundamental step within a larger project of integral rehabilitation and subsequent use of the building,” said Lola García, president of the Cabildo.
“The works not only secure the building’s stability but also include a study of its current condition and the materials that compose it,” added Rayco León, councilor for Culture.
The results of this first phase will be presented on 18 March at 19:00 during an informative session at the Centro Cultural Raíz del Pueblo in La Oliva. The presentation will be led by architects Fernando Arocha and Deiene González, who are in charge of the technical direction of the project.
That meeting will also launch a participatory process promoted by the Department of Cultural Heritage. The process aims to define the future rehabilitation, use, and development of the property through dialogue with the various social agents involved. It will be coordinated by José Álamo, social worker and researcher at the ULPGC.
The Casa del Inglés is regarded as one of La Oliva’s most emblematic buildings and enjoys protection as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC). It was originally built by Julián Leal Sicilia, whose family, originally from La Palma, was engaged in agriculture and trade between the Canary Islands and America. Later, the house passed into the hands of John Parkinson, an English naturalist linked to the study of local flora and fauna; his stay on Fuerteventura gave the building its popular name.
Key facts
- Investment: €650,000 for structural stabilization.
- Scope of first phase: Roof and façade restoration.
- Presentation date: 18 March, 19:00, Centro Cultural Raíz del Pueblo, La Oliva.
- Stakeholders: Cabildo president Lola García, Culture councilor Rayco León, architects Fernando Arocha & Deiene González, ULPGC researcher José Álamo.
- Heritage status: Protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC).
- Historical owners: Julián Leal Sicilia (original builder) and John Parkinson (later owner).