Don Antonio de Solís and the Expropriation of Mendizábal
In 1837, as a consequence of the Expropriation of Mendizabal, the Dominican Order was forced to sell Hacienda Zorita, which was then divided into three parts:
– Farmstead of Zorita, sold to Don Francisco Sánchez for 180,000 reales
– Reserve Redondo de Valcuevo, acquired by Don Antonio de Solís for 243,769 reales
– Land of the Torre de Perales, purchased by Don Jerónimo Lorenzo for 510,170 reales
Shortly thereafter, the Solís family reunited Hacienda Zorita, returning it to its historical configuration. Taking advantage of the Tormes River, Tomás de Solís turned Zorita into one of the most important flour mills in Spain, until it was devastated by a fire in 1950, falling into disuse and later into ruin.
