John Mackintosh Square

John Mackintosh Square

View of John Mackintosh Square in 2005, with theGibraltar Parliamentat the East side of the square
Former name(s)	Plaza Mayor,Alameda,The (Grand) Parade, Commercial Square,Plazuela del Martillo/El Martillo,thePiazza
Owner	Government of Gibraltar
Location	Gibraltar
Coordinates	36°8′27.015″N5°21′15.01″W

John Mackintosh Square(colloquiallyThe Piazza) is a mainsquarein theBritish overseas territoryofGibraltar.It has been the centre of city life since the 14th centuryand takes its name fromJohn Mackintosh,a localphilanthropist.Notable buildings on John Mackintosh Square include theParliament Buildingand theCity Hall.

History

Map of Gibraltar in 1627, byLuis Bravo de Acuña:
1- Puerta de España (nowLandport Gate)
2- Castillo (Moorish Castle)
3- Hospital de San Juan de Dios (the oldSt Bernard's Hospital)
4-Plaza Mayor(nowJohn Mackintosh Square)
5- Iglesia parroquial de Santa María la Coronada y San Bernardo (now theCathedral of St. Mary the Crowned)
6- Calle Real (nowMain Street
7- Puerta de África (nowSouthport Gates)
8- Muelle Viejo (Old Mole)

Originally known during theSpanish periodasPlaza Mayor(English:Main Square) (according toAlonso Hernández del Portilloin his work titledHistoria de la Muy Noble y Más Leal Ciudad de Gibraltar−English:History of the Very Noble and Most Loyal City of Gibraltar)orGran Plaza(English:Great Square)and afterwards as theAlameda(Spanishfor anavenuelined withpoplars,not to be confused with theAlameda Gardens), it opened out from the west of theCalle Real(nowMain Street). Two buildings separated it from the Line Wall (Gibraltar's main sea wall during the Spanish period, which run fromLandportto the foot of theSouth Mole): a large rectangular building to the west of the square, and a smaller lower building to the south of it, the hospital and chapel ofLa Santa Misericordia(English:The Holy Mercy).

During the first century of theBritish period,the square was used formilitary paradesby the garrison and therefore known as theParadeorGrand Parade.In 1704, after thecity's capture by an Anglo-Dutch fleet,theBritishconverted the hospital and chapel ofLa Santa Misericordiainto adebtors' prison.In 1753, a survey of Gibraltar went on showing a prison at the western end of the square.After theGreat Siege,acolonnadedGeorgianguardhousewas built on the southern side of the square.It was theMain Guard,the place from which all thesentriesin Gibraltar were posted each evening.Some years later it hosted theFire Brigade.After the move of the brigade to the new fire station atVictoria Batteryin 1938, it became theRates Office.Today the guardhouse houses theGibraltar Heritage Trust.

The square was also where military punishment in the form offloggingstook place.

The look of the square changed very much during the second decade of the 19th century, when its two most prominent buildings were constructed. In 1817 local merchants raised money by public subscription to construct a building to house theExchange and Commercial Library.In 1807, Gibraltar merchants had founded a library in Bedlam Court, as they were denied membership of theGarrison Library,it being available only to members of the British garrison in the city (the Garrison Library functioned not only as alibrary,but as aclub,owned and run by and for military officers; civilians were excluded, regardless of their prominence). Ten years later, in 1817, they built themselves a new building on the east side of the square, thus separating it from Main Street. It housed, not only alibrary,but also anauctionroom and became the meeting place of local merchants.In 1951, the building was refurbished to host theLegislative Council,which in 1969 become theHouse of Assembly.Since 2006, the building hosts theGibraltar Parliament.

View of the City Hall from John Mackintosh Square

About the same time, in 1819,on the opposite side of the square,Aaron Cardozo,a prosperous merchant ofJewish Portuguesedescent, built the grandest privatemansionever seen in Gibraltar.The three-storeyhouse dominated the square. It was erected on the site of the old hospital and chapel ofLa Santa Misericordiaand later prison.As a nonProtestant,Cardozo was not legally allowed to own property in Gibraltar. However, as he had been a close friend ofHoratio Nelsonand had supplied his fleet, he was eventually granted a site to build a house in theAlamedaon the condition that it be "an ornament"to the square.Its cost was about£40,000.After his death in 1834, his mansion was rented out as a hotel,theClub House Hotel.It was bought in 1874 byPablo Antonio Larios,a wealthy businessman and banker,Gibraltarian-born and member of aSpanishfamily, who completely refurbished the building.In 1922, his sonPablo Larios, Marquis of Marzales,sold the building to the Gibraltar colonial authorities, which intended to turn it into apost office.However, it eventually became the premises of the newly formedGibraltar City Hallwhich now houses theMayor's Parlour.The building later underwent multiple modifications (such as the addition of a new storey and an extension to the north) that altered the original symmetry of the building.

In the mid 19th century the name of the square was changed toCommercial Square,being the site of a dailyflea marketand regularpublic auctions,as a result of which a Spanish name,Plazuela del Martillo,or more colloquially,El Martillo,was coined ( "martillo" being the Spanish word for agavel).Another popular name at the time wasJews Market.These epithets fell out of usage and the square is typically referred to as ThePiazza,anItalianname created following the construction of a paved area in the centre of the square, probably introduced byGibraltar's Genoese settlers.The name "John Mackintosh Square" was officially adopted in 1940.

Fountains

In 1571, anaqueductwas built to channeldrinking waterfrom theRed Sandsin the south district to the city. Afountainat the northwest corner of the square (the steps now calledFountain Ramp,known in Spanish asCallejón de la Fuente,to the north of where the City Hall is today) was supplied by this aqueduct.Although the aqueduct fell into disuse some years later, with the fountain drying up, the fountain head was refurbished in 1694. It was moved toCastle Streetin 1887 and remained there until the 1960s.It was eventually re-erected on theLine WallagainstZoca Flanksome 20 metres (66 ft) to the northwest of its original location(four lion-headed vents were carved in the low part of the fountain, representing war, pestilence, death and peace).

In 1869, a new fountain was erected by theSanitary Commission,fed from wells in the isthmus that linksThe RockwithSpainto supply drinking water. It was inaugurated on 8 December by Lady Airey, wife ofGovernorSir Richard Airey.However, the "Airey Fountain" became dry very soon and was replaced in 1879 by an ornamental fountain constructed to commemorate the stay ofThe 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn— third son ofQueen Victoria— in Gibraltar.It was dismantled during theSecond World War.

The construction of anair-raid shelterbeneath John Mackintosh Square (then known as Commercial Square) in 1939 (looking west).

Air-raid shelter

The construction of anair-raid shelterbeneath John Mackintosh Square (then known as Commercial Square) in 1939 (looking east).

In 1939 excavations were carried out for the construction of anair-raid shelterunder John Mackintosh Square. These excavations revealed no prior building foundations, suggesting the square has been an open plaza for its entire 600+ year history.Today, part of the underground shelter houses the square'spublic toilets.

Events

Evacuation of the Gibraltarian civilian population during World War II

After the breakout ofWorld War IIa decision was made to enforce a massevacuationfrom Gibraltar in order to increase the strength of The Rock as afortresswith increasedmilitaryandnavalpersonnel. This meant that only those civilians with essential jobs were allowed to stay.

In early June 1940, about 13,500 evacuees were shipped toCasablancainFrench Morocco.However, following thecapitulation of the French to the German armiesin June 1940 and thedestruction of the French fleet at Mers el-Kebir by the British fleet,the new Pro-German FrenchVichy Governmentasked for all Gibraltarians to be removed.An opportunity for their removal soon arose when 15 Britishcargo vesselsarrived at Casablanca under Commodore Crichton, repatriating French servicemen rescued fromDunkirk.Once they had disembarked, the ships were interned until they agreed to take on all the evacuees.Although Crichton could not clean and restock his ships (and contrary toBritish Admiraltyorders which forbade the taking on of evacuees), he eventually agreed to do so. However, when the evacuees arrived in Gibraltar, theGovernor,SirClive Liddel,did not allow them to land, fearing that once the evacuees were back on The Rock, it would be virtually impossible to re-evacuate them.Crowds gathered at John Mackintosh Square as the news of the orders not to land broke, speeches were made and twoCity Councilorsaccompanied by the Acting President of theExchange and Commercial Librarywent to see the Governor Liddell to ask that the evacuees be allowed to land. After receiving instructions fromLondon,a landing was allowed as long as the evacuees returned when other ships arrived, and by 13 July the re-evacuation had been completed.

Intervention of Joshua Hassan and Peter Isola before the United Nations

In September 1963,Chief MinisterJoshua Hassan,and Leader of the OppositionPeter Isola,travelled toNew York Cityto intervene before theUnited Nations Decolonisation Committeeas "petitioners" from Gibraltar. Crowds filled John Mackintosh Square as they gathered to wish them well and then again to welcome them back. Their homecoming took place on 24 September 1963 and was commemorated in the paintingThe Triumphal Welcomedepicting the scene at John Mackintosh Square, authored by local artistAmbrose Avellano.

Gibraltar National Day

Thesymbolic releaseof 30,000 red and white balloons from the roof of theParliament Building,National Day 2009.

Main article:Gibraltar National Day

In 1992, John Mackintosh Square was the venue chosen by the thenChief Minister of Gibraltar,Joe Bossano,to celebrate the firstGibraltar National Day.This National Day is celebrated annually on 10 September to commemorateGibraltar's first sovereignty referendum of 1967,in whichGibraltarianvoters were asked whether they wished to either pass underSpanishsovereignty,or remain underBritishsovereignty, with institutions ofself-government,overwhelmingly opting to remain British. However, the first National Day was so successful that the avalanche of people that turned up could not fit into John Mackintosh Square. Therefore, in 1993 the venue was changed to the largerGrand Casemates Square.This remained the main venue almost continuously until 2008 when the official celebrations were returned to John Mackintosh Square, with the Mayor conducting the main event and presenting theGibraltar Medallion of Honourfrom the balcony of the City Hall. The Gibraltar National Day Declaration is also read, and a symbolic release of 30,000 red and white balloons from the roof of the Parliament Building follows.

Miss World 2009 homecoming

See also:Miss World 2009

Miss Gibraltar2009,Kaiane Aldorino,made history on 12 December 2009 as she was crownedMiss WorldinJohannesburg,South Africa,becoming the first ever Miss Gibraltar to achieve this.Chief MinisterPeter Caruanahailed her win as a "wonderful achievement for her and for Gibraltar" and promised a "homecoming fit for a queen".Consequently, theGovernment of Gibraltarannounced she would be flown into Gibraltar fromLondonon aprivate jetand issued apress releasein which it detailed the events that would take place upon Kaiane's arrival. These included a public greeting atGibraltar Airport,a parade through Main Street, where Kaiane would ride in the same open-top car asPrincess DianaandPrince Charlesduring theirhoneymoonvisit to Gibraltar.On 17 December 2009, Gibraltar came to a standstill as she paraded down Main Street preceded by the band of theRoyal Gibraltar Regimentand then appeared at the City Hall balcony where she greeted the crowds at John Mackintosh square. This was followed by apress conferenceand reception at theRock Hotel.The celebrations culminated with a fireworks display fromGibraltar Harbour.

Notable buildings on John Mackintosh Square

• Gibraltar City Hall
• Gibraltar Parliament

See also

• Main Street, Gibraltar
• Grand Casemates Square

Bibliography

• Benady, Tito(1996).The Streets of Gibraltar.Gibraltar Books. pp. 17–18.ISBN0-948466-37-5.
• J. D. Mather (2004).200 years of British hydrogeology.Geological Society.ISBN1-86239-155-6.
• Bond, Peter (2003).300 Years of British Gibraltar 1704-2004.Peter-Tan Publishing Co.