Ferrol as a Plural Space: Analysis of Eighteenth-century British Documentary Sources

Abstract

In this work special emphasis is given to written representations of the city of Ferrol which were included in the British press and State papers. Such an approach will provide evidence for understanding the dynamic character of Ferrol by the middle of the eighteenth-century. At that time, the project of naval reform, which was initiated by the government of the Bourbon monarchy in order to safeguard the interests of the kingdom, played a key role in shaping the socioeconomic characteristics of this town, which had a mixture of migrated people from different backgrounds and professions. Due to the fact that it was a strategically important military port, the image projected of Ferrol abroad was closely linked to its naval activities and port operations which were indicative of its dynamic environment.