The Ministry for Heritage has announced the formal listing of the Late Medieval Round Tower, located within the AM Capurro Garages complex west of Line Wall Road between the American War Memorial and Zoca Flank Battery. 

A statement from the Government follows below:

The listing has been published as an amendment to Schedule 2, Part 3 of the Heritage and Antiquities Act 2018 and officially recognises the tower’s architectural and historical significance. 

This cylindrical tower, partially preserved beneath the concrete flooring of a garage, is one of the very few surviving remnants of the network of round towers that once characterised Gibraltar’s western defensive walls. These towers formed part of the city’s late medieval and early modern fortifications, many of which were depicted in 16th-century drawings, including those of the famed topographer Anton van den Wyngaerde. 

While much of the historic Line Wall has been transformed by later military interventions, this particular tower, previously concealed beneath later structures, has survived in remarkable condition.It shares typological similarities with other towers documented in historical maps, aswell as with the now-demolished Devil’s Tower that stood at the northern end of the Rock. Features such as the use of matacanes (stone brackets for defensive purposes) have been identified both in surviving elements and in historical depictions. 

Archival materials and archaeological findings confirm the tower's medieval origins, likely dating to the Spanish period, with possible roots extending back to earlier Marinid constructions. 

AM Capurro management will be working with the Ministry to restore the tower and reveal the original stonework. 

The Minister for Heritage,the Hon Prof JohnCortes, said:“This is an exciting addition to Gibraltar’s growing list of protected assets. The Late Medieval Round Tower not only enriches our understanding of the city’s historical fortifications but also serves as a powerful reminder that important heritage survives even in the most unexpected corners of our modern landscape. I am most grateful to Arturo Capurro for his support and enthusiasm for this important initiative.”