Montagu Bastion
| Montagu Bastion | |
|---|---|
Plataforma de San Andrés | |
| Part ofFortifications of Gibraltar | |
| Gibraltar | |
 Montagu Bastion | |
 Montagu andOrange Bastionsas depicted on the scaleModel of Gibraltar (1865)(now at theGibraltar Museum) | |
  Montagu Bastion | |
| Coordinates | 36°08′43″N5°21′16″W/ 36.145291°N 5.354376°W |
| Type | Bastion |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Gibraltar |
| Open to the public | No |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Limestone Concrete |
TheMontagu Bastionis one of manybastionswhich were designed to protectGibraltar.Montagu was joined toOrange Bastionby acurtain wallknown asMontagu Curtainand this bastion was protected by theMontagu Counterguard.
History
[edit]
Montagu Bastion was built on the remains of the SpanishPlataforma de San Andrés(Spanish:St. Andrew's Platform). A British bastion already existed on this site in the 1730s and was enlarged in 1773 giving it a pentagonal shape. In the 1790s, SirWilliam Green,oversaw improvements toGibraltar's fortifications.As part of this he had the Montagu and theOrange Bastionsextended and in addition he arranged forcounterguardsto be constructed in front of them in theGibraltar Harbour.[1]The counterguard, which mirrors the shape of its bastion, had been authorised by theDuke of Richmondin 1787.[2]The theory behind constructing a counterguard, like the Montagu Counterguard in 1804,[3]is that the enemy has to first capture the counterguard in order to take the bastion. Whilst attempting this the enemy would come under the direct fire of the bastion thwarting their plan. Another layer of protection was added when Montagu Counterguard was also given abreakwaterthat would deteramphibious assaults.[1]
A newgatewas cut through Montagu Curtain in 1792[3]and the counterguard was completed in 1804.[2]By 1859 the bastion had 29 guns making it the most powerful bastion in Gibraltar. This was in addition to the guns at the counterguard and six guns on Montagu Curtain.[4]
ThreeRML 10 inch 18 ton gunswithGibraltar Shieldswere installed in 1880 and removed in 1907.[3]
In 1931 the bastion had fourQF 3 inch 20 cwtguns installed.During World War IIthe bastion was equipped with twoQF 3.7 inch AA guns.[3]
Today
[edit]Today the bastion houses a gym and offices for theGibraltar Youth Service.The service runs four youth clubs and one of these meets at the bastion.[5]
The bastion also houses a 42-bed youth hostel known as the Emile Hostel.[6]
Remains of the threeGibraltar Shieldswhich were used to protect the threeRML 10 inch 18 ton gunsare still in place today.[3]
References
[edit]
- ^abFa, Darren;Finlayson, Clive(2006).The fortifications of Gibraltar: 1068-1945 p.31(1. publ. in Great Britain. ed.). Oxford [u.a.]: Osprey.ISBN9781846030161.
- ^ab"Government of Gibraltar Press Release".Panorama.22 July 2001.Retrieved7 March2013.
- ^abcde"Montagu Bastion, Montagu Counterguard, Montagu Curtain..."DiscoverGibraltar.com. Archived fromthe originalon 5 September 2013.Retrieved7 May2013.
- ^"1859 Map of the Fortifications of Gibraltar".UK National Archives MPH 1/23.Retrieved17 May2013.
- ^"Gibraltar Youth Service".gibraltar.gov.Retrieved7 March2013.
- ^"Emile Hostel in Gibraltar".hostelworld.com.Retrieved7 March2013.
