ROYAL FOUNDRY HOUSE

Structure 4

Gold Control and the «Royal Fifth»

History and Construction:

• Period: 1528 – 1544.
• Evolution After suffering two fires, it went from a thatched ranch to a solid brick and tile structure 831 sq m.

Economic Function
This site processed the wealth of the province:

• Foundry The gold was weighed and melted into ingots.
• Royal Tax The 20% (Quinto Real) for Spain.
• Security was guarded «Box of the Three Keys», where the royal seal or «lion» was kept to mark the metal.

The «House of Howls»:
This building has a dark historical background, as it was here that indigenous slaves were branded with hot iron, a practice that gave rise to its chilling nickname.