The 18th-century Guns of Princess Caroline's Battery

We invite you to examine the deliberate safety protocols established within this artillery battery. To mitigate the risk of accidental explosions, soldiers changed their attire in a separate annex and utilized specific footwear. The 6-inch gun's shells were propelled by explosive charges stored in a room featuring three small interior windows. This design allowed lanterns to illuminate the cartridge storage without the hazards of an open flame. From there, charges passed through a floor level dispensing hatch and were raised to the gun crew by a hoist.

Established in 1732 and named for Princess Caroline, the third daughter of King George II, this battery served during the Great Siege of Gibraltar. The site evolved over time, featuring a 9-inch rifled muzzle loading gun with an Elswick Ordnance Company carriage in 1871. Further updates occurred in 1905 when the site was refurbished to house a 6-inch Mark VII gun mounted directly above the magazine.

Though the gun is no longer here, the original hoists used to move heavy charges remain for you to observe. These mechanisms transported the explosives from the storage room to the crews. Today, the underground magazine serves as the Military Heritage Centre. This exhibition space contains relics ranging from the eighteenth century to the present day, including various weapons and shells. You may also visit the Memorial Chamber, which displays the ensigns of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy alongside a monument dedicated to those who made the supreme sacrifice in the defence of Gibraltar.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons