Last Thursday, the centuries-old bond between Gibraltar and the Royal Engineers was brought into sharp focus as a detachment of the Corps joined the ongoing restoration efforts at the Northern Defences.

Working under the direction of Project Director Carl Viagas, the Engineers tackled the dense vegetation that had long covered the approaches above Landport Gate – once Gibraltar’s principal entrance. In just a few hours, stone walls and defensive lines that had been hidden from view for decades were revealed once more.

“It is always remarkable to see these structures emerge again,” said Mr Viagas. “The Royal Engineers were instrumental in building and shaping these defences, and their presence today helps us reconnect with that long history.”

The work forms part of a wider programme that includes the removal of rubble and accumulated debris across the complex, gradually restoring passages and galleries that had lain buried or inaccessible. Each stage uncovers new layers of Gibraltar’s military past, shedding light on how the Rock was defended in times of siege and threat.

A centuries-long relationship

The Royal Engineers’ connection to Gibraltar is as old as Britain’s presence on the Rock itself. From the early 18th century onwards, they were responsible for carving tunnels through solid limestone, laying out batteries and bastions, and strengthening Gibraltar into the formidable fortress it became renowned for. Their innovations – from underground magazines to elevated galleries – made the defences a marvel of military engineering.

Today, their contribution is remembered not only in the structures they left behind, but also in the traditions of service and skill that continue whenever detachments return to the Rock.

Looking to the future

The cleared sections above Landport Gate will form part of the new visitor attraction scheduled to open next year, an immersive experience that will allow residents and tourists alike to walk the same paths and view the same defensive works once manned by soldiers centuries ago.

Planned interpretation will highlight the role of the Engineers, ensuring that their contribution is woven into the story presented to the public. “This project is about more than stone and earth,” the Deputy Chief Minister noted. “It is about honouring the people who built, maintained, and defended Gibraltar through the ages.”

Continuing efforts

With vegetation now stripped away from Landport Gate’s upper slopes, attention will return to clearing rubble in adjacent galleries and terraces. These tasks are painstaking but essential, gradually piecing together a defensive network that once defined Gibraltar’s reputation as “the Key to the Mediterranean.”

For many, the sight of Royal Engineers at work in the Northern Defences is a living reminder of Gibraltar’s heritage. Their contribution last week not only aided practical progress but also symbolised the enduring connection between the Rock and a Corps whose history here stretches back over three centuries.

“It is a pleasure for me, as Minister for the Environment but also Heritage and Education, to see the Northern Defences are once again alive with activity,” the Hon Dr John Cortes said. “And in that activity, we are reminded of Gibraltar’s resilience, its history, and the people who shaped it.”

ENDS