A horse’s head is cut out on the façade of number 44 Morales Street, in Les Corts, framed by a horseshoe made of bricks. It is a small sculpture from the late 19th century that indicated that the activity that took place in the building was related to horses. It is one of the remaining signs of identity of Camp de la Creu, an old rural center that today is a small neighborhood within Les Corts.
The building had belonged to the Comas transport company at the time when this work was done with carts and horses. The building, in fact, preserves the nave architecture typical of this activity. The business continued until the 60s of the 20th century, when it was replaced by another company also dedicated to transportation, but which instead of cars used trucks. It was also a warehouse. Today, only the small sculpture on the façade remains of the old stables.
Morales Street, where the building is located, is one of the axes of this small neighborhood, along with Montnegre Street and Plaza del Carme. The rural origin changed from the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, when small houses with ground floor and first floor were promoted to house the workers of the industries that developed throughout Les Corts.
The Camp de la Creu connected with the Colonia Castells, a group of houses for the working class. It was promoted by the Castells family, owner of an oil and varnish factory. This working-class neighborhood has practically disappeared and most of the houses have been demolished to make way for new blocks of flats. Located at the confluence of Travessera de Les Corts and Calle Entença, it was able to resist the construction boom for a few decades, but has finally succumbed to its strategic urban location.
The horse’s head on Morales Street, however, is still there. Another nearby goat has disappeared with its building. At some point in his history, the horse lost his right ear, which someone rebuilt. It wasn’t a perfect job, but it works.
