How about a story about a battery that transformed from a military stronghold to an aerial farm? This is the story of Middle Hill Battery. It is an artillery battery with a rich past. It is nestled in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve in Gibraltar.
Middle Hill Battery’s story begins in 1727. Back then it was just a single gun emplacement. Imagine soldiers guarding this lonely post. Their main job was to stop desertions. Soldiers sometimes tried to escape by lowering themselves down the cliff with ropes. In one case it was a guard that tried to desert.
In 1783 disaster struck. Sparks ignited an ammunition box causing an explosion. The guardhouse was destroyed and part of the wall collapsed. Several guards were injured. However the damage was quickly repaired. By 1859 Middle Hill Battery still only had one cannon.
The turn of the 20th century brought big changes to Middle Hill Battery. By 1900 six 10-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns were in place. The layout mirrored that of Spyglass Battery. These guns had a range of 9000 yards. They were aimed at Spanish emplacements.
The 1908 Ordnance Survey map shows the battery’s layout. Two rows of three guns were housed in a rectangular concrete enclosure. The map also reveals the presence of the Nursery Hut. It served as barrack accommodation. Nearby the Middle Hill Group buildings perched on the cliff edge.
During the Second World War an anti-aircraft Bofors gun was added to Middle Hill Battery. After the war the site was repurposed. Middle Hill Battery became a Ministry of Defence aerial farm. In 1958 the Radio Engineering Unit of RAF Henlow refurbished it. They constructed multiple buildings. Radio masts dotted Middle Hill on concrete bases.
For decades Middle Hill Battery was off-limits. Public entry was a criminal offence. In 2005 the Ministry of Defence transferred much of Middle Hill to the Government of Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society now manages the area.
Today the site holds remnants of its past. The original battery site now houses an air conditioning plant and an electricity transformer. The artillery magazine and storage rooms still exist. One room even became the Aardvark Bar for Royal Air Force personnel. The Nursery Hut and Middle Hill Group are still there. The Nursery Hut is in poor condition.
South of Middle Hill Battery sits an observation post. Derelict buildings nearby serve as a provisioning station for Barbary macaques. Stairs lead to Middle Hill’s highest point. A large concrete base marks the spot. This base once held a radio antenna. Middle Hill Battery stands as a testament to Gibraltar’s layered history. From artillery battery to aerial farm it has played many roles. Now it is a place where nature and history intertwine.