Constitution Square

From bein known as “King Square”, or named as the ruler of the time, to be the Republic Square, José Antonio Square or Constitution Square, name with which it was baptized in 1933 and has mantained to the current day.

In that same year, the Town Hall offices were transferred to the building that would become the City Hall, as a consequence granting this place the name of City Hall Square or the Clock Square, name known to everyone despite not being official.

In what would be the City Hall building, the Civil Guard Barracks were installed since the last third of the 19th Century, and had to be moved to the back of the property to install the municipal offices after the remodelling carried out by the architect Mr. Alberto López de Asiaín. Finally, in 1994 the Barracks would be relocated to the outskirts of the city.

The facade of this building is worth seeing, where the coat of arms of Bailén stands out along with the clock and the turret that had to be built for it. Today we observe an electronic chronograph acquired the 15th of October of 1982, since there have been several who have marked the passage of time, it became necessary to get rid of them due to the rapid breakdowns that the old ones suffered.

Making history, the first recorded clock dates back to 1822, located in the Mocha Tower of the fortress residence reserved for the Earls Ponce de León, in what had been the old Castle of Bailén. Later, in 1849, a new clock was acquired, which did not last long at all and had to be replaced in 1862. In addition, two bells were also acquired, which are still preserved to this day. As it was the first to be installed in the tower that had to be build for such purpose, an enormous financial effort was made that was borne by both the municipal budget and the residents of Bailén, who contributed half of the forty thousand reales (old spanish coin) of the total amount. As an anecdote, during its construction, one of the workers fell and fortunately was saved by a Civil Guard from the Barracks, who cushioned the fall. Finally the decay meant that, on the 28th of November of 1914, the penultimate acquisition was made, and would remain until the arrival of the one we see today.

Upon entering the City Hall and more specifically its Chapterhouse, we will find a copy of the original portrait of General Castaños that was made by the valencian painter Vicente López Portaña; chamber painter of Ferdinand VII when he succeeded Goya, who knew how to capture the prowess of the First duke of Bailén through a calm face brimming with experience. Another copy of the portrait was then commissioned by the Mayor Mr. José Morillo Cárdenas, to the Duke of Bailén Mr. José María Cavero de Carondelet Goicoerrotea in 1927. A year later, coinciding with the Commemorative Events of the Battle of Bailén, the President of the National Assembly, Mr. José Yanguas Messía, would present the canvas made by D. José Nogué y Massó.