TRAGASOL – The history behind the
warehouse
Part C
(Final)
by M.A. Sophocleous
Scientific Director of Pattichion Historical Archive Museum & Research Centre
Tragasol closed down temporarily in the 1950s when the colonial administration of Cyprus brought under consideration the building of a port in Limassol. In May 1953 it arranged a £26.000 loan for Limassol Municipality to facilitate the acquisition of the Tragasol premises, in addition to some 40 skalas (1 skala= 1338 sq. metres) of land south-west of the building, with a view to facilitate the construction of new port-related buildings (including one for customs). However, and in practice, the Tragasol carob factory and warehouse continued to operate until 1960, which marked the end of colonial rule in Cyprus. Subsequently the building was sold to the government and was used for a while as a warehouse for the customs department, before closing down completely in 1980.
In the year 1946 those working at Tragasol, were paid on the basis of the quality of carobs. Their weekly wage was 10 shillings. Grided carobs were fetching 16 piastres, special quality 18 piastres and carobs in bulk 15 piastres. At that time Tragasol would buy carobs for 73 shillings per kantar (approx. 56 kilos) and sell them for 124 shillings to importers in England, France and elsewhere. At that point in time, the purchase and sale of carobs was deemed worthy of news coverage. A case in point was the first export of grinded carobs, το Liverpool in 1928.
In lieu of a conclusion, we can say that Limassol is in effect an open industrial heritage museum, owing to the many industrial units that were once in operation here. Indeed, the industrial heritage of Limassol is an important aspect to the history of Limassol. Tragasol represents a very special example of industrial architecture which can help towards comprehending the industrial history of the town.
