Monument for the Spanish workers of Gibraltar
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| 1. Monument for the Spanish workers of Gibraltar [La Línea de la Concepción, Spain] |
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| 2. Modern day view of the Gibraltar frontier crossing [La Línea de la Concepción, Spain] |
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posted by ritsonvaljos at 10:21 pm
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For many years Spaniards who lived within daily cycling distance of Gibraltar would dismount at the frontier crossing early in the morning to work in the shipyards, the dockyards and other important civilian jobs. At the end of the day's work these Spanish workers would make the return journey by bicycle.
Many thousands of Spaniards continued to work in Gibraltar - even during the Second World War when the work was arguably more vital than ever. In fact, this daily travel to work by bicycle by Spanish workers continued long after the war. The sight of Spanish workers crossing the frontier with their bicycles became an established feature of daily life. It came to an end on 8 June 1969 when General Francisco Franco declared that the frontier crossing from La Linea de la Concepción to Gibraltar would be closed. As a result many Spanish workers who did not relocate to live in Gibraltar lost their jobs.
While General Franco died in 1975, the frontier crossing did not re-open until 14 December 1982. Spanish workers were able to find employment in Gibraltar again, although the proportion who did so by bicycle was not as many as before.
On 1 May 2003 a statue was unveiled dedicated to the Spanish workers who made their daily journey to Gibraltar by bicycle [Photograph No 1]. Its location in La Línea de la Concepción is within a few minutes walk (or bicycle ride) of the frontier crossing. In the modern era, a number of new roads and buildings have been erected on the Spanish side of the frontier crossing. The modern view from behind the statue looking towards the frontier crossing with Gibraltar can be seen above [Photograph No 2].
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