Beneath Middle Hill, a story waits within the limestone depths of Poca Roca Cave. This cave in Gibraltar has seen sieges and served governors. Let me transport you back in time.
Poca Roca Cave’s fissure snakes through the Rock. It stretches from Bell Lane to Catalan Bay. Gibraltar is often called the Hill of Caves. Limestone makes up all these caves.
During the Great Siege of Gibraltar, the Rock’s people sought shelter in caves. Gibraltarians used Beefsteak Cave. But Poca Roca Cave was different. In August 1779, it was readied for Governor General George Augustus Elliot. He later became Lord Heathfield of Gibraltar. Imagine the hustle as workers prepared the cave.
However, Governor Elliot never slept here. He preferred his official residence or a tent. Instead, Poca Roca Cave became a gunpowder store after 1783. It served the artillery batteries on the heights. Think of the barrels stacked high.
Decades later in the 1860s, Captain Fred Brome sought to explore Poca Roca Cave. He wanted to find archaeological evidence. He also explored Martin’s Cave, St. Michael’s Cave, and Fig Tree Cave. The Governor agreed. A team of ten prisoners began the explorations. Martin’s Cave was explored first.
The Garrison seemed to struggle with Poca Roca’s name. It was spelt differently in 18th-century texts. Captain John Drinkwater mentioned Poca Roca Cave. He noted its petrifying qualities. Before the bombardment, it was meant for the Governor. Then, it became a powder magazine. It was very convenient for the batteries. Drinkwater’s colleague Captain John Spilsbury also mentioned it.
Later, in World War II, the main chamber of Poca Roca Cave became a bakery. This ignominious use left bread rack evidence behind. It was still there in 1975.
Poca Roca Cave stands as a silent witness. It connects the past to the present. It’s a reminder of sieges, governors, and even bread baking. The cave is a piece of Gibraltar’s layered history, hidden beneath Middle Hill.