What echoes do you think linger here at Eliott’s Battery? This artillery battery stands as a testament to Gibraltar’s strategic importance. Eliott’s Battery is named for George Augustus Eliott. He was the 1st Baron Heathfield and Governor of Gibraltar from 1777 to 1790.
Eliott’s Battery sits in front of the Officer’s Barracks. You will find it at Europa Flats between Prince George’s Battery and Woodford’s Battery. The UK Ministry of Defence originally built it. Today the Government of Gibraltar owns it.
Originally, the site was known as Lady Louisa’s Battery. By 1859, Eliott’s Battery was a formidable installation. It mounted one 68-pounder and sixteen 32-pounder guns. The 32-pounders were being replaced with 68-pounders at that time.
A decision was made in 1874 to modernize the battery. The sixteen guns were scrapped. They were replaced with eleven 80-pounder 5-ton RML guns. This work was completed by 1876. Records from 1886 show eight 80-pounder RML guns installed.
Upgrading Eliott’s Battery was a significant undertaking. The work began in July 1874 and finished on March 31, 1875. Repairs were made to embrasures and parapet tops costing £112. Racers for ten platforms were raised for £389. The shell store had cost £434 between 1856 and 1866. Further work from 1866 to 1867 cost £49.
Between May and September 1897, the battery saw further changes. Four 3-pounder Q.F. guns were mounted at the north end of Eliott’s Battery. This section was then designated as Elliot’s Practice Battery. This addition cost £139.
Today much of the area around Eliott’s Battery has been converted into residential homes. Though its military days are over, the battery’s history remains. It is a reminder of Gibraltar’s past. It shows its importance as a strategic stronghold. Eliott’s Battery stands as a silent witness to history.