The Fábrica Nacional de Cordoaria or Cordoaria Nacional (National Ropeyard) After the Lisbon Earthquake, on November 1 1755, the Marquis of Pombal ordered the creation of a ropeyard in the new facilities of the Royal Navy Arsenal, and that a Master Rope-maker should head this new workshop. António Baptista de Sá was nominated for that position by a decree issued on July 29, 1775, combining said role with the heading of the Junqueira Ropeyard. For these positions, he received a salary of 480.000 "Réis", provided he did not "own his own ropeyard, nor in a partnership, nor even produce ropes and rigging that was not for Royal use." Another decree issued in July 1775 said that António Baptista de Sá had been nominated the Master Rope-maker both at the Royal Navy Arsenal ropeyard and at the new Junqueira ropeyard. This leads us to assume that the Junqueira Ropeyard became active around 1775, on open grounds near the coastline. António Baptista de Sá was the Master Rope-maker for around 27 years, and on April 12, 1798, he issued a formal request to Queen Maria I asking that the queen assign him a position in the Portuguese Navy according to his years of faithful and skillful service. The queen conceded said request, and granted him the position of First Lieutenant of the Portuguese Royal Navy. Between 1924 and 1969, naval construction engineers, the first of which was Commander Silvério Coelho de Sousa Mendes, headed the National Ropeyard.
On October 30, 1992, the Portuguese Government determined the extinction of the National Ropeyard.
"Cocha" Wing
The Ropeyard building is made up of two parallel wings, each with a length of 353,3 metres and the width of 12,27 metres, separated by a courtyard throughout its lenght. On each extremity and in the centre three turrets connect the wings across the courtyard.
The south side wing was the "Cocha" Workshop, concluded in 1778, where the ropes were twisted to make ship rigging. The north wing was used for silk and linen spinning. All work done in these two workshops was done entirely by hand or with manually moved machinery. The blind, war invalids and even prisoners were employed in the National Ropeyard.
Area: 3.740m2
Useful Area: 3120 m2 – Length 312 m – Width 10m;
Technical Corridor – 2 m.
Characteristics: Covered and ample space (Ground level), in front of the Av. da Índia.
Access: Av. da Índia (three central doors); Access to courtyards from inside.
Access to water points: Water points outside (courtyards).
Electricity : Indoor lighting ( low intensity ) ; Three-phase plugs ( various ) ; Single-phase plugs ( various ); Reinforcement possibility – all logistical questions and equipment must be handled by the lessee.
Security: Fire detectors; Fire extinguishers (chemical powder and CO2); Emergency signs; intrusion systems; emergency exits;
Access to toilets: the toilets are located in the courtyards (East and West).
Kitchen Support: located in the courtyards (East and West).
Capacity: Depending on the type of event.
Events: Seated or standing lunches; Book launches; art exhibitions; etc. . . .
Any event must submit a proposal and is dependent on authorization.