The Queen's Lines are a set of fortified lines, part of the fortifications of Gibraltar, situated on the lower slopes of the north-west face of the Rock of Gibraltar. They occupy a natural ledge which overlooks the landward entrance to Gibraltar and were an extension to the north-east of the King's Lines. They run from a natural fault called the Orillon to a cliff above the modern Laguna Estate, which stands on the site of the Inundation, an artificial lake created to obstruct landward access to Gibraltar.[1] The Prince's Lines run immediately behind and above them on a higher ledge. All three of the Lines were constructed to enfilade attackers approaching Gibraltar's Landport Front from the landward direction.[2]
Clickable map of the Northern Defences of Gibraltar in 1810 (north is to the left)
1908 Ordnance Survey map of the Queen's Lines and Prince's Lines
The Lines were built in 1788[1] but the Spanish or Moors seem to have constructed a much earlier irregular defensive wall on the same site, as depicted in a 1627 map by Don Luis Bravo de Acuña.[3] The Lines run along what had been an access path up to the Granada Gate. During the tenure of William Green as Gibraltar's Senior Engineer from 1761–83, the Lines were repaired, improved and fortified, and the cliffs below were scarped to make them impossible to climb.[4]
They are connected to the King's Lines via a communication gallery completed on 13 September 1782,[5] and to the Prince's Lines via another gallery constructed in 1790.[1] They saw action during the Great Siege of Gibraltar (1779–83) when the Lines were a principal target for Spanish gun batteries; during a heavy bombardment in September 1782, they suffered significant damage.[6]
At the far end of the Queen's Lines is the Queen's Lines Battery, which mounted one 12-pdr between 1781–1834. The gun was then replaced by an 8-inch brass howitzer, and between 1859–89 a ten-inch howitzer and three 24-pdr carronades were mounted there. Behind the Lines three tunnels called the Queen's Lines Galleries were dug out in 1789 to provide bomb-proof shelters. At the eastern end of the Lines, Queen's Advance and Queen's Lookout (built in 1727) provide views out over the isthmus between Gibraltar and Spain.[1]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Northern Defences, Gibraltar.
Cornwell, B. (1782). A Description of Gibraltar: with an account of the blockade, siege, the attempt by nine sail of fire ships, the sally made from the garrison, and every thing remarkable or worthy notice that has occurred in that place since the commencement of the Spanish war. London: B. Cornwell.
Drinkwater, John (1786). A history of the late siege of Gibraltar, by John Drinkwater. London. OCLC 631054.
Hughes, Quentin; Migos, Athanassios (1995). Strong as the Rock of Gibraltar. Gibraltar: Exchange Publications. OCLC 48491998.
Kenyon, Edward Ranulph (1938). Gibraltar Under Moor, Spaniard, and Briton. London: Methuen.
December 15, 2023
queen, lines, fortified, lines, part, fortifications, gibraltar, situated, lower, slopes, north, west, face, rock, gibraltar, they, occupy, natural, ledge, which, overlooks, landward, entrance, gibraltar, were, extension, north, east, king, lines, they, from, . The Queen s Lines are a set of fortified lines part of the fortifications of Gibraltar situated on the lower slopes of the north west face of the Rock of Gibraltar They occupy a natural ledge which overlooks the landward entrance to Gibraltar and were an extension to the north east of the King s Lines They run from a natural fault called the Orillon to a cliff above the modern Laguna Estate which stands on the site of the Inundation an artificial lake created to obstruct landward access to Gibraltar 1 The Prince s Lines run immediately behind and above them on a higher ledge All three of the Lines were constructed to enfilade attackers approaching Gibraltar s Landport Front from the landward direction 2 Queen s LinesPart of Fortifications of GibraltarGibraltar1908 Ordnance Survey map of the Queen s Lines and Prince s LinesQueen s LinesCoordinates36 08 48 N 5 20 52 W 36 146703 N 5 347647 W 36 146703 5 347647TypeFortified defensive linesSite informationOwnerGovernment of GibraltarConditionAbandoned Forbes Batteries Inundation Willis Battery Queen s Lines Prince s Lines King s Lines Tower ofHomage Moorish Castle Landport Gate GrandBattery NorthBastion Fleche Causeway Forbes Barrier BaysideBarrierClickable map of the Northern Defences of Gibraltar in 1810 north is to the left 1908 Ordnance Survey map of the Queen s Lines and Prince s LinesThe Lines were built in 1788 1 but the Spanish or Moors seem to have constructed a much earlier irregular defensive wall on the same site as depicted in a 1627 map by Don Luis Bravo de Acuna 3 The Lines run along what had been an access path up to the Granada Gate During the tenure of William Green as Gibraltar s Senior Engineer from 1761 83 the Lines were repaired improved and fortified and the cliffs below were scarped to make them impossible to climb 4 They are connected to the King s Lines via a communication gallery completed on 13 September 1782 5 and to the Prince s Lines via another gallery constructed in 1790 1 They saw action during the Great Siege of Gibraltar 1779 83 when the Lines were a principal target for Spanish gun batteries during a heavy bombardment in September 1782 they suffered significant damage 6 At the far end of the Queen s Lines is the Queen s Lines Battery which mounted one 12 pdr between 1781 1834 The gun was then replaced by an 8 inch brass howitzer and between 1859 89 a ten inch howitzer and three 24 pdr carronades were mounted there Behind the Lines three tunnels called the Queen s Lines Galleries were dug out in 1789 to provide bomb proof shelters At the eastern end of the Lines Queen s Advance and Queen s Lookout built in 1727 provide views out over the isthmus between Gibraltar and Spain 1 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Northern Defences Gibraltar a b c d Hughes amp Migos pp 344 5 Cornwell p 15 Hughes amp Migos p 21 Fa amp Finlayson p 25 Kenyon p 64 Drinkwater p 304Bibliography editCornwell B 1782 A Description of Gibraltar with an account of the blockade siege the attempt by nine sail of fire ships the sally made from the garrison and every thing remarkable or worthy notice that has occurred in that place since the commencement of the Spanish war London B Cornwell Drinkwater John 1786 A history of the late siege of Gibraltar by John Drinkwater London OCLC 631054 Fa Darren Finlayson Clive 2006 The Fortifications of Gibraltar Oxford Osprey Publishing ISBN 1 84603 016 1 Hughes Quentin Migos Athanassios 1995 Strong as the Rock of Gibraltar Gibraltar Exchange Publications OCLC 48491998 Kenyon Edward Ranulph 1938 Gibraltar Under Moor Spaniard and Briton London Methuen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Queen 27s Lines amp oldid 962223420, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
