Grand Casemates Square (colloquially Casemates Square or Casemates) is the larger of the two main squares within the city centre of Gibraltar (the other being John Mackintosh Square). The square takes its name from the British-built Grand Casemates, a casemate and bombproof barracks at the northern end of the square completed in 1817.[1][2]
Grand Casemates Square
View of Grand Casemates Square, looking northeast towards the Rock of Gibraltar (2007).
Located at the northern end of Main Street, the square is lined with numerous pubs, bars and restaurants[2] and acts as the gateway into Gibraltar's city centre for most tourists.
Archaeological finds at Grand Casemates Square in the 1990s, included remains of what are believed to be the foundations of a 14th-century galley house.
Grand Casemates Square dates back to Gibraltar's Moorish period when the place was first fortified, making it as old as the city itself.[3]
Moorish periodedit
The square is built on sand that was once a beach. In May 1160 Moroccans sent by the Almohad rulerAbd al-Mu'min landed to lay the foundations of the first substantial settlement.[4] This "City of Victory" (Medinat al-Fath) was small and included the area within the Moorish Castle and the land just below. It was this new ruler who changed the name of the rock to Jabal al-Fath meaning Mount of Conquest.[4]
In the late 15th century a gate in the wall near Water Gate was opened to let galleys in. The building of the Old Mole in the 1570s led to the passage silting and the galley house became unusable.[5]
The area of Grand Casemates Square formed part of the old town Spanish: Villa Vieja during Spanish times, being walled with its own gates and towers.[5] Early 17th century plans refer to this area as La Barcina.[2]
Following the problems the Spanish faced with the buildings sinking into the soft wet ground, the British began to construct fortress walls and battlements on higher, more solid ground.[2][6] In 1770, chief engineerWilliam Green began preparatory work for the construction of Grand Casemates as bombproof barracks on the square's northern flank.[2][5] However, its construction was not started until after the Great Siege of 1779-1783 and it was finished in 1817 under the governorship of General Sir George Don.[5]
After the Great Siege the British decided to demolish most buildings within the square which had suffered great damage. This opened up the area into an esplanade which could be used for public events such military parades and public executions.[2][6]
Grand Casemates Square was once the site of public military hangings,[7] with the last one being held in 1864.[6][8]
Archaeologyedit
Following excavations during the refurbishment of the square in the 1990s, archeological remains of a galley house were unearthed.[5] These foundations are still on display in the square.[9]
21st centuryedit
Nowadays Grand Casemates Square has become a commercial hub housing numerous pubs, bars, restaurants and shops[6] following the refurbishment of the square in the 1990s to replace a car park which occupied half the square.[10] The square is also used to host various cultural events from live open-air concerts, to National Day celebrations.[6] In 2012 the square was host to celebration for Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebration which was attended by the Earl and Countess of Wessex.[citation needed]
^ abNorris, H.T. (1961). "The Early Islamic Settlement in Gibraltar". Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 91: 39–51. JSTOR 2844467?.
^ abcdefCrone, Jim. . DiscoverGibraltar.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
^ abcde. Your Gibraltar TV. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
^The Sydney Morning Herald - The Original Rock Star (15 February 2009)
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April 12, 2024
grand, casemates, square, colloquially, casemates, square, casemates, larger, main, squares, within, city, centre, gibraltar, other, being, john, mackintosh, square, square, takes, name, from, british, built, grand, casemates, casemate, bombproof, barracks, no. Grand Casemates Square colloquially Casemates Square or Casemates is the larger of the two main squares within the city centre of Gibraltar the other being John Mackintosh Square The square takes its name from the British built Grand Casemates a casemate and bombproof barracks at the northern end of the square completed in 1817 1 2 Grand Casemates SquareView of Grand Casemates Square looking northeast towards the Rock of Gibraltar 2007 Former name s La Barcina La EsplanadaOwnerGovernment of GibraltarLocationGibraltarCoordinates36 08 41 N 5 21 10 W 36 1448 N 5 3528 W 36 1448 5 3528Located at the northern end of Main Street the square is lined with numerous pubs bars and restaurants 2 and acts as the gateway into Gibraltar s city centre for most tourists Contents 1 History 1 1 Moorish period 1 2 Spanish period 1 3 British period 1 3 1 Capital punishment 1 3 2 Archaeology 1 3 3 21st century 2 Monuments 3 Notable fortifications in Grand Casemates Square 4 See also 5 Gallery 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksHistory edit nbsp Archaeological finds at Grand Casemates Square in the 1990s included remains of what are believed to be the foundations of a 14th century galley house Grand Casemates Square dates back to Gibraltar s Moorish period when the place was first fortified making it as old as the city itself 3 Moorish period edit The square is built on sand that was once a beach In May 1160 Moroccans sent by the Almohad ruler Abd al Mu min landed to lay the foundations of the first substantial settlement 4 This City of Victory Medinat al Fath was small and included the area within the Moorish Castle and the land just below It was this new ruler who changed the name of the rock to Jabal al Fath meaning Mount of Conquest 4 This land was an intertidal zone used by the Muslims to beach their galleys After the Siege of Gibraltar in 1309 Ferdinand IV of Castile gave orders that a galley house be built where his ships could be repaired This house gradually sank into the sand over the next few centuries 5 Spanish period edit In the late 15th century a gate in the wall near Water Gate was opened to let galleys in The building of the Old Mole in the 1570s led to the passage silting and the galley house became unusable 5 The area of Grand Casemates Square formed part of the old town Spanish Villa Vieja during Spanish times being walled with its own gates and towers 5 Early 17th century plans refer to this area as La Barcina 2 British period edit nbsp The last public military execution in Gibraltar held at Grand Casemates Square in 1864 with the garrison drawn up to witness the hanging nbsp A view of Casemates Square by John Lawson Stoddard in 1901Following the problems the Spanish faced with the buildings sinking into the soft wet ground the British began to construct fortress walls and battlements on higher more solid ground 2 6 In 1770 chief engineer William Green began preparatory work for the construction of Grand Casemates as bombproof barracks on the square s northern flank 2 5 However its construction was not started until after the Great Siege of 1779 1783 and it was finished in 1817 under the governorship of General Sir George Don 5 After the Great Siege the British decided to demolish most buildings within the square which had suffered great damage This opened up the area into an esplanade which could be used for public events such military parades and public executions 2 6 Capital punishment edit See also Capital punishment in Gibraltar Grand Casemates Square was once the site of public military hangings 7 with the last one being held in 1864 6 8 Archaeology edit Following excavations during the refurbishment of the square in the 1990s archeological remains of a galley house were unearthed 5 These foundations are still on display in the square 9 21st century edit Nowadays Grand Casemates Square has become a commercial hub housing numerous pubs bars restaurants and shops 6 following the refurbishment of the square in the 1990s to replace a car park which occupied half the square 10 The square is also used to host various cultural events from live open air concerts to National Day celebrations 6 In 2012 the square was host to celebration for Elizabeth II s Diamond Jubilee celebration which was attended by the Earl and Countess of Wessex citation needed Monuments editMonuments found within the square include Gibraltar Defence Force 11 Koehler gun 12 Notable fortifications in Grand Casemates Square editGrand Casemates Grand Casemates GatesSee also editMain Street Gibraltar John Mackintosh SquareGallery edit nbsp Old postcard of Gibraltar depicting Grand Casemates Square and the Moorish Castle 1909 nbsp Re enactment of the Ceremony of the Keys at Grand Casemates Square Gibraltar by History Alive 2007 nbsp Gibraltar Defence Force Monument at Grand Casemates Square Gibraltar 2009 nbsp Governor of Gibraltar Sir Adrian Johns holding the Keys of Gibraltar at Grand Casemates Square during the Queen s Birthday Parade in Gibraltar June 2010 References edit Gibraltar Main sights Andalucia com Retrieved 5 July 2012 a b c d e f Casemates Square Gibraltar Travel Guide Archived from the original on 1 April 2018 Retrieved 5 July 2012 Jackson William G F 1986 The Rock of the Gibraltarians Cranbury NJ Associated University Presses pp 34 35 ISBN 0 8386 3237 8 a b Norris H T 1961 The Early Islamic Settlement in Gibraltar Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland 91 39 51 JSTOR 2844467 a b c d e f Crone Jim Grand Casemates Square DiscoverGibraltar com Archived from the original on 26 June 2012 Retrieved 5 July 2012 a b c d e Watch The World Go By In Casemates Square Your Gibraltar TV Archived from the original on 20 May 2012 Retrieved 22 July 2012 The Sydney Morning Herald The Original Rock Star 15 February 2009 Jackson William G F 1986 The Rock of the Gibraltarians Cranbury NJ Associated University Presses ISBN 0 8386 3237 8 THE CRADLE OF HISTORY Tristan Cano travelthruhistory com accessed August 2012 Whitley David Gibraltar From Casemates Square to the World War II Tunnels GrumpyTraveller com Retrieved 22 July 2012 Fun things to do in Gibraltar Virtual Tourist Archived from the original on 23 June 2013 Retrieved 22 July 2012 Historical Gibraltar Attractions Casemates Square GibraltarInformation com Archived from the original on 29 August 2012 Retrieved 22 July 2012 Bibliography editBenady Tito 1996 The Streets of Gibraltar Gibraltar Books pp 17 18 ISBN 0 948466 37 5 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grand Casemates Square 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grand Casemates Square amp oldid 1099621653, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
