Great Siege Tunnels
The Great Siege Tunnels – Grit Determination And Sheer Resilience
The Great Siege Tunnels sum up everything that is historic and indeed great about Gibraltar. They are the antithesis of the rock's turbulent past and as a result they really are pretty near the top on a long list of must see Gibraltar attractions.
A Short History Lesson
Around the time of the war of independence 1775 -1783, it is fair to say that British troops were spread very thinly, concentrating most of their efforts on the American front. However, between the years of 1779 and 1783, the coalition forces of France and Spain mounted a stream of all-out attacks on Gibraltar in their hope to win back the rock from the British garrison, which had fought and taken the rock after a combined Anglo-Dutch invasion in 1704.
In 1713 the British firmly took control and saw Gibraltar as a strategic point in the Mediterranean. The later siege by the combined French and Spanish armies became known as the 'fourteenth' Siege or the 'Great' siege.
How the Tunnels Came About
By 1782, after 3 years of constant attacks against the British, the French and Spanish forces were so close to the rock face that the garrison, which was extremely heavily defended, could no longer fire upon the enemy. This clearly created a problem. The governor at the time, General Elliot, is believed to have offered a substantial reward for anyone who could show him a way to get the heavy cannons up to the steep north face of the rock, so that they could get a better firing trajectory. A member of the Military Artificers (Sgt Mjr Ince), suggested that the best way to get the cannons to the steep north face (known as the nook) was to tunnel. Work was granted and started immediately.
The tunnellers relied on brute strength, pick axes and some gunpowder, in order that they could blast their way through. As the work slowly progressed the fumes from the gunpowder nearly choked the tunnellers. As a result it was decreed that an air vent should be opened in order to ventilate the tunnel. Almost immediately the tunnellers realised what an excellent firing position for the cannons the ventilation holes made. As a result they started to cut more holes at strategically placed distances throughout the tunnel, where they placed further cannons. Finally, they found that they had a good solid defence around the entrance of the rock. These good striking positions coupled with the fact that the enemy would have great difficulty in inflicting any casualties as the defending troops were hidden, meant that it helped to bring an end to the siege one year later.
In the beginning the Great Siege Tunnels were only 82 feet in length. However these were further extended during the second world war by the British forces based here. They used heavy duty diamond cutters in order to make light work of the rock. As a result, the tunnels wound their way around almost 30 miles. It literally stretched from one end of the rock to the other.
So What Can You Expect To See?
In essence the tunnels are an underground museum, which really encapsulates what it was like to be on Gibraltar in the late seventeen hundreds. Much of the tunnels are made easy for access, although it has to be said that they can be quite steep. There are also a lot of life like mannequins who are shown in the digging process plus carrying out many other important roles. You can also see the gun positions and get a real feel for what it was like down here right in the heat of battle. On top of all this you get magnificent views out into the bay below.
If you are looking to travel to Gibraltar, then a trip here wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Great siege tunnels. It is possible to purchase a ticket here as part of a Gibraltar tours package that you can use in conjunction with other well known places and sights of interest.
Photos By Leo Hayes
Check out the Great Siege Tunnels Video:
Created by Gold Productions Studios
