Gardiner's Battery

Gardiner's Battery is an artillery battery in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It is named after the governor Sir Robert Gardiner.[1]

Gardiner's Battery
Part of Fortifications of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gardiner's Battery and gunners in 1879
Gardiner's Battery
Coordinates36.133408°N 5.351045°W / 36.133408; -5.351045
TypeArtillery Battery

Description

Gardiner's Battery was part of a second set of retired batteries which were proposed by General Sir John Jones. These "retired" batteries were set away from the shoreline in order that they could get greater range by taking advantage of the increased altitude of the Rock of Gibraltar. In addition the batteries were more difficult for the enemy to spot. Jones also built similar batteries at Raglan's Battery and Jones' Battery.[2] This high battery fired out west over the top of Victoria Battery which was also a retired battery and both batteries fired out over the top of Saluting Battery that was on the coast.[3]

In 1859 the battery had ten guns.[3] At the end of the nineteenth century this battery was using the last generation of muzzle loading guns[4] before breech-loaders became the standard.

The battery was named after the governor Sir Robert Gardiner,[1] who was known for his disregard of the local population.

These must have been a success as the urge for increased height eventually led to guns being sited on the very top of the rock.[2]

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References
  1. Gardiner, Sir Robert William (1856). How to Capture and Govern Gibraltar: A Vindication of Civil Government Against the Attacks of the Ex-Governor Sir Robert Gardiner, K. C. B., Etc., in His Secret and Unlicensed Report Recently Put Into Circulation. Richardson Bros. p. 177. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  2. Fa & Finlayson (2006). The Fortifications of Gibraltar 1068-1945. Osprey Publishing. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-1-84603-016-1. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  3. "1859 Map of the Fortifications of Gibraltar". UK National Archives MPH 1/23. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  4. Jackson, Sir William G.F. (1987). The Rock of the Gibraltarians : a history of Gibraltar ([2nd ed., paperback]. ed.). Rutherford: Farleigh Dickinson University Press. p. 241. ISBN 0838632378.


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