Century old Campo 24 de Agosto is a tribute to the Liberal Revolution of 1820
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Did you know that Campo 24 de Agosto was once designated Campo de Mijavelhas and that the place name was altered to honour the Liberal Revolution of 1820, by the City Council?
What is known as the Campo 24 de Agosto square was once referred to as Campo de Mijavelhas, where there was a sort of water reservoir that would keep riverheads and would also provide water supply to the city.
Remnants of that structure, including a 60 metre deep water well have been found during the construction work for the subway near the metro station of Campo 24 de Agosto.
The "Arca de Água de Mijavelhas", as it was designated, was built in the 16th century, but the origins of that name are lost in time. This name has, however, a rather colourful explanation, as that was the site where women would pee after a long strained walk from the neighbourhood village of Valongo and S. Cosme or even because the washerwomen that would work there were old; either way, these explanations are not entirely proven, as explained by Carlos de Passos, in a text published in the Porto City Hall Cultural Bulletin in 1955.
"The mentioned place name was already common in 1385, according to testimonies in a chronicle of King D. João I, written by Fernão Lopes", as stated by Carlos de Passos.
Despite the fact that the place offered plenty of water, where people would collect water from the well with their own pots, it was not an agreeable site to visit, as that place was also chosen to hold the gallows and hang law offenders. The gallows were set there till 1714.
That was, as well, a busy working site, full of washerwomen, the place of a cotton and silk mill, and there are reports that in 1833 cattle fairs were organised there, as described by Carlos de Passos.
By that time, the place's official designation was already Campo 24 de Agosto, stipulated by public notice on 1st August 1860, published by the Civil Government, to honour the Liberal Revolution of 1820.
Remnants of those times can be appreciated in the Campo 24 de Agosto Metro station. The old "Arca de Água de Mijavelhas" was rebuilt, stone by stone and it is on display at the station's mezzanine.