01 - External Entrance

These buildings and the surrounding area are among the earliest British structures constructed after the capture of Gibraltar in 1704. Etched into their walls is a remarkable and often overlooked record of those who passed through them.

The earliest known graffiti on site dates to 1726, carved by a man named Richard. Just a year later, in 1727, Gibraltar would face its thirteenth siege, meaning Richard’s mark was made just prior to that conflict.

The inscriptions continue across the site well into the late nineteenth century, forming a layered record of generations of soldiers. For many, these carvings were more than idle acts. Soldiers faced severe punishment if found asleep at their post, and passing the long hours of duty required vigilance. Carving names, sketching ships, or marking regiments into the stone became a way to stay alert and, perhaps more importantly, to leave behind a trace of their presence.

What remains today is not random damage, but a human archive. Names, regiments, ships, buildings, and scenes of daily life are all preserved here, turning these walls into a lasting testament to the individuals who lived, served, and endured within them.