History of Spain. Mining industry in Biscay. Iron foundry known as La Mudela. It was built for the exploitation of iron ore on the San Francisco del Desierto estate in Sestao. It belonged to Francisco de las Rivas y Ubieta (1808-1882), Marquis of Mudela, who died before its completion. Between 1919 and 1920 the factory was acquired by Altos Hornos de Vizcaya (1902-1996). View of the furnaces. Engraving by Bernardo Rico (1825-1894). La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana (The Spanish and American Illustration), 1883.