Alexandra Battery

Was Alexandra Battery always destined for greatness? Perhaps not. Before it bore the regal name of Alexandra of Denmark, wife of Edward, Prince of Wales, this site on Gibraltar’s South Mole held a simpler title: New Mole Battery. And even earlier, an old Spanish fort stood guard here, near the enigmatic Tuerto Tower. Alexandra Battery, as we know it today, arose from the strategic mind of Colonel William Jervois. His 1868 report called for a formidable new battery, armed with the British Army’s most powerful weapon: the RML 12.5-inch 38-ton gun. Imagine the sheer force of this behemoth, encased within a protective iron shield. The Prince of Wales himself laid the foundation stone for Alexandra Battery in 1876. Two years later, the battery stood complete, a testament to British military might. Yet, the march of technology is relentless. By 1902, Alexandra Battery was already considered outdated. By 1906, its role had shifted from offense to accommodation, the casemates repurposed for housing. The massive 12.5-inch gun wasn’t forgotten though. It was moved first near Engineer Battery, then finally found a new home at Harding’s Battery in 2013. Alexandra Battery continued to adapt. During World War II, the need for defense arose again. A QF 2-pounder pom-pom gun was placed atop the casemates in 1940, safeguarding the South Mole. In 1941, a Bofors 40 mm gun joined the arsenal, bolstering Gibraltar’s anti-aircraft defenses. Today, Alexandra Battery stands as a testament to Gibraltar’s layered history, its story etched in stone and steel. From Spanish fort to cutting-edge artillery battery, from outdated relic to wartime protector, it has witnessed centuries of change, its walls echoing with the whispers of the past.