Conservation Works To Begin At Devil’s Tongue Battery
The Ministry for Heritage, with support from Gibralflora, is set to begin conservation works at Devil’s Tongue Battery, starting with vegetation clearance and a survey of the surviving historic structures.
The project will be carried out in phases, with plans to restore the monument and improve its surroundings, including compensatory planting. The adjoining pedestrian walkway will remain open throughout the works.
A statement from the Government follows below:
Continuing its work to restore Gibraltar’s heritage monuments, the Ministry for Heritage, with the support of Gibralflora, will shortly commence preliminary works at Devil’s Tongue Battery as part of a wider initiative to conserve and restore one of Gibraltar’s historic coastal fortifications.
The project will be undertaken in phases, beginning with the clearance of vegetation that currently obscures much of the surviving historic masonry. This will allow the Ministry to undertake a comprehensive condition survey, assess the extent of the surviving structures and identify the conservation and restoration measures required.
Once the survey has been completed, a programme of restoration will be developed and implemented in stages, with the aim of conserving the surviving historic fabric and improving the presentation and appreciation of the monument.
Temporary fencing and public access
To safeguard both the public and those undertaking the works, temporary fencing will be erected along the perimeter of the existing planted area. This will secure the site during vegetation clearance, surveying and subsequent restoration.
The fencing will be positioned so as not to obstruct the adjoining pedestrian walkway, which will remain accessible throughout the works.
The Ministry appreciates that the works will involve visible changes to the existing planted area, including the removal of vegetation that has grown over and concealed substantial sections of the monument. This clearance is necessary to enable the historic structures to be properly inspected, conserved and ultimately restored. There will be no loss of planted areas, and the area will be appropriately re-landscaped. Appropriate provision will be made for compensatory planting, compatible with the conservation requirements of the monument, within the project area itself. This will ensure that the necessary heritage conservation works are balanced with environmental considerations.
A monument spanning centuries of Gibraltar’s history
Devil’s Tongue Battery forms part of Gibraltar’s original harbour infrastructure, dating back to the Spanish imperial period.
The Old Mole, known as El Muelle Viejo, was constructed during the sixteenth century and subsequently enlarged in 1608 under the direction of the Spanish military engineer Cristóbal de Rojas. It provided an important maritime facility for the fortified town and was connected to its coastal defences through an area historically known as Punta del Diablo (Devil’s Point).
Following the British capture of Gibraltar in 1704, the Old Mole was progressively strengthened and adapted for military purposes. During the eighteenth century, Devil’s Tongue became an important artillery battery, eventually mounting twenty-two guns and playing a significant role in the defence of Gibraltar’s northern approaches, particularly during the Great Siege of 1779–1783.
The name Devil’s Tongue has its origins in the earlier Spanish place-name, although historical accounts also associate it with the formidable firepower of the battery, which made it a particularly troublesome position for besieging forces.
Originally projecting into the sea, the battery gradually lost its coastal setting as Gibraltar’s harbour expanded. Extensive land reclamation during the late nineteenth and subsequent twentieth centuries eventually left the surviving fortification surrounded by land, where it remains today.
Despite these considerable changes, significant elements of the original defensive structures survive, providing an important physical connection to Gibraltar’s maritime and military past.
Recovering and celebrating Gibraltar’s heritage
The Ministry’s long-term ambition is to transform the present appearance of the site by conserving and exposing the surviving historic masonry, improving its immediate surroundings and introducing appropriate heritage interpretation.
The accompanying historical images illustrate how Devil’s Tongue once projected into the sea and how its surroundings have evolved over the centuries. Artist’s impressions have also been prepared to illustrate how the monument could be presented following restoration. These are indicative concepts, with the final design and scope of works to be informed by the condition survey and conservation requirements.
The Ministry for Heritage would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding while these important works are undertaken.
The project represents another step towards safeguarding Gibraltar’s historic fortifications and ensuring that an important, but often overlooked, part of the Rock’s heritage can be better appreciated by residents and visitors alike.
The Minister for Heritage, the Hon Professor John Cortes MBE MP, said:
“Devil’s Tongue Battery is one of those remarkable places in Gibraltar where centuries of our history survive, largely hidden in plain sight. What began as part of our harbour during the Spanish period later became an important defensive position, before the expansion of the city transformed its surroundings entirely.
“Our intention is to recover this important piece of Gibraltar’s heritage, carefully exposing and conserving the surviving structures so that their history can once again be appreciated. This will be a phased project, guided by a proper assessment of the monument’s condition, and we will ensure that environmental considerations are taken into account throughout.
“By restoring sites such as Devil’s Tongue Battery, we are not simply preserving old walls. We are reconnecting Gibraltar with its past and ensuring that these important reminders of our history can be understood and enjoyed by future generations.”
