2 - North Magazine

The Great Siege of Gibraltar, fought between 1779 and 1783, was the longest siege endured by a British garrison, lasting over three years and seven months. During that time, around 7,000 British troops and several thousand civilians faced a combined Spanish and French force that at its height numbered more than 30,000 men.

Cut off from regular supplies, the Rock was pushed to the brink. Food became dangerously scarce, with rations reduced to the bare minimum. Fresh provisions disappeared, leading to malnutrition and the spread of disease. Scurvy, dysentery, and fever took hold among both soldiers and civilians.

Many civilians were evacuated as conditions deteriorated, while those who remained endured near-constant bombardment. During the Great Assault of 1782, tens of thousands of rounds were exchanged in a single day, as the besieging forces launched a massive combined land and sea attack.

At sea, the Royal Navy fought repeatedly to break the blockade, most notably with the Grand Relief of 1782, when a convoy of over 30 ships forced its way into Gibraltar under heavy fire to deliver vital supplies.

As one officer observed at the time:

“The enemy flattered themselves with the certainty of reducing Gibraltar, yet the garrison resolved to defend it to the last extremity.”
— Captain John Drinkwater

As the siege tightened, Gibraltar was cut off from regular supplies. Food became scarce, and what remained grew steadily more expensive. Prices rose beyond the reach of many, while the quality of provisions deteriorated.

Contemporary accounts describe widespread hunger and the breakdown of normal supply. Bread, when available, was fought over. Fresh produce disappeared, and diets became increasingly poor, contributing to the spread of disease, particularly scurvy.

Opportunistic trading and profiteering further worsened conditions, as basic goods were sold at inflated prices. For many, survival depended not on pay or rank, but on access.

“It is really grievous to see the fighting of the people for a morsel of bread… Men wrestling, women entreating, and children crying…”
— Samuel Ancell, November 1779

“I was in continual dread of the scurvy… my husband’s pay… would not purchase milk for my children… is not death from the mouth of a cannon more acceptable than in the shape of famine?”
— Catherine Upton, May 1781

In extreme cases, people turned to whatever they could find.

“They were reduced to eating herbs and weeds gathered from the rocks.”
— Miriam Green

During the Great Siege (1779–1783), disease was a major cause of suffering and death within Gibraltar.

Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and a declining diet created conditions in which illness spread rapidly. Smallpox, dysentery, scurvy, and fevers affected both soldiers and civilians. Smallpox was particularly severe, especially among children, and spread quickly through the confined population. As supplies diminished, fresh food disappeared, contributing to malnutrition and increasing vulnerability to disease.

At the time, “inoculation” referred to an early form of protection against smallpox, in which material from a mild case was deliberately introduced into a healthy person to produce immunity. The practice was known, but not always permitted, particularly within military settings where concerns over its risks remained.

By the end of the siege, records show that disease accounted for a significant proportion of deaths within the garrison. A “General Return of Casualties” notes that over 500 soldiers died from sickness, including scurvy. Civilian losses were not formally recorded, but are believed to have been substantial, particularly among women and children.

As noted by Captain John Drinkwater, disease “made dreadful ravages in our hospitals, and many were daily confined.”

Miriam Green said of smallpox:

“More & more had accounts of the fatal Effects of the Small Pox… the Losing so many fine Children has been a heavy Stroke upon them…” — 6 June 1780

“The smallpox is beginning to be fatal to the children… all means are tried to obtain leave to inoculate, but as yet to no purpose.” — 26 February 1780

“Smallpox raging very bad, children dying every day.” — 11 April 178

The town of Gibraltar suffered extensive damage during the Great Siege as a result of sustained artillery bombardment from Spanish and French forces.

Contemporary accounts and later records confirm that large parts of the town were reduced to ruins. In earlier sieges, “a hundred houses were… laid in rubbish,” and during the Great Siege itself the destruction was more widespread, affecting both civilian buildings and key structures.

Buildings were repeatedly struck, walls weakened, and many structures rendered unsafe. Some were abandoned, while others were repurposed for military use. Religious buildings, homes, and public spaces were all affected, with sections destroyed and later rebuilt in altered forms.

The scale of damage forced civilians to leave the town, relocating to temporary encampments beyond the range of the heaviest fire.

As recorded by a contemporary witness in April 1781:

“The enemy keep up a vigorous bombardment upon us. Our town is almost become a heap of ruins, and what few houses are left standing, the walls are so shattered that it is not safe to go into them.”
— Samuel Ancell, April 1781

As the bombardment of Gibraltar intensified during the Great Siege, much of the civilian population was forced to abandon the town.

Families moved south of the main settlement, beyond the range of the heaviest land-based artillery, establishing makeshift shelters between South Barracks and the Mount. This encampment was initially referred to as “New Jerusalem” but due to its harsh conditions, it became known as “Black Town”.

Although further from the main batteries, Black Town remained exposed to attack. Spanish gunboats operating along the coast were able to target the area, bringing continued danger to those who had already fled the destruction of the town.

Captain John Drinkwater similarly noted the scale of disruption, observing that the bombardment forced inhabitants from their homes and left much of the town deserted as civilians sought safety elsewhere. The movement of civilians out of the main settlement did not end their suffering. It marked a transition from destruction to displacement, as large parts of the population lived for extended periods in temporary and exposed conditions.

Movement beyond the Rock was in most cases not an option. Gibraltar remained under blockade by land and sea, restricting supplies and preventing escape. For those inside, the siege was not something to endure briefly, but a prolonged and uncertain reality.

Relief came only intermittently, when naval convoys were able to break through the blockade and deliver provisions. Between these moments, the garrison and civilian population were left to manage with what they had.

For many, daily life was defined by uncertainty, limited resources, and continued exposure to danger.

The experience of the siege was not a single event, but a sustained period of hardship. Its effects were felt across every part of life on the Rock.

During the 18th century, this building functioned as a powder magazine, used for the storage of gunpowder required for the defence of Gibraltar.

Gunpowder was stored in wooden barrels and kept in controlled conditions to reduce the risk of ignition. Magazines were carefully constructed and maintained, with strict safety measures in place. The use of non-sparking materials, limited access, and constant supervision were all essential to protect both the powder and the garrison.

Contemporary accounts give an indication of the scale of storage. One record notes that as many as 551 full barrels of gunpowder were held on site.

Artillery Buttons

The 1799 pattern Royal Artillery buttons are late 18th-century British military uniform fasteners. Typically made of brass for soldiers and gilt for officers, they feature the three-cannon motif associated with the Board of Ordnance.

These buttons are frequently found in Gibraltar, particularly in areas associated with gun batteries, reflecting the presence of artillery units on the Rock.

Many examples were manufactured by Firmin & Sons of London, a long-established supplier that continues to produce military insignia today.

Mortar Shell Fragment

This fragment is part of an 18th-century mortar shell, most likely fired by Spanish forces during the Great Siege of Gibraltar (1779–1783).

Mortar shells were hollow iron spheres filled with gunpowder and fitted with a fuse. Fired in a high, arcing trajectory, they were designed to pass over defensive walls and explode on impact or after a short delay, causing damage to buildings and personnel within enclosed spaces.

The cracking visible on this fragment is consistent with the force of detonation. When the shell exploded, the iron casing fractured and dispersed at speed, creating both blast damage and lethal fragments.

Finds such as this provide direct physical evidence of the bombardment endured by Gibraltar during the siege.

Bronze Nails

Bronze nails were commonly used in powder magazines during the 18th century due to their safety properties. Unlike iron, brass does not produce sparks when struck, making it far less likely to ignite stored gunpowder.

Gunpowder is highly sensitive to sparks and friction. For this reason, every element within a magazine was carefully considered. Doors, fittings, tools, and fixings were often made from non-ferrous metals such as brass or copper to reduce the risk of accidental ignition.

The use of brass nails formed part of a wider system of precautions designed to protect both the stored powder and the people working around it. Even small details such as these reflect the constant awareness of danger within ammunition storage areas.

24-Pounder Round Shot

These iron cannonballs were most likely fired at Gibraltar by Spanish and French forces during the Great Siege (1779–1783).

Round shot, or solid shot, consisted of a solid iron sphere fired from heavy artillery. It was the standard ammunition for both naval guns and land-based siege cannon. On land, 24-pounder guns were used to batter fortifications, walls, and buildings, delivering significant structural damage on impact.

In some cases, round shot could be heated in a furnace until red-hot before firing. These “hot shot” were used to ignite wooden structures, ships, or defensive positions.

Note: A “24-pounder” refers to the weight of the shot. In practice, individual examples could vary slightly due to casting methods or later corrosion.

6-Pounder Carronade

This 6-pounder carronade was a short-barrelled cannon designed for close-range combat. Developed at the Carron Company foundry in Falkirk, Scotland, it was widely used by the Royal Navy from the late 18th century.

Carronades were valued for their light weight and effectiveness at short distances. They could fire solid round shot against ships or grape and canister shot against personnel, making them particularly useful in confined or defensive positions. In Gibraltar, weapons of this type were likely employed in close-range, anti-personnel roles.

Advances in artillery, particularly the introduction of longer guns and rifled barrels, eventually led to the carronade falling out of service in the early 19th century.

Service dates: c.1780–1810
Calibre: 3.688 inches
Length: 2 ft 7 in
Weight: approx. 5.3 cwt

The Long Land Pattern Musket & Shot

This is a replica of the British Long Land Pattern musket, commonly known as the “Brown Bess.” Introduced in 1722, it formed part of a wider move within European armies to standardise infantry weapons by adopting a single pattern of musket for service. The origin of the nickname “Brown Bess” remains uncertain.

Prior to its introduction, regiments were responsible for procuring their own firearms and ammunition. This resulted in variations in calibre and design, making supply and maintenance more difficult. The adoption of the Brown Bess marked a significant step towards standardisation within the British Army.

Long Land Pattern Musket

Service years: 1722–1797
Weight: 10.5 lbs
Overall length: 62.5 inches
Barrel length: 46 inches
Bore diameter: 0.75 inch
Effective range: approx. 100–175 yards
Rate of fire: up to 3 rounds per minute
Bayonet: 17-inch triangular blade, socket-mounted (also used as a sight reference)

Musket Balls

A soldier would typically carry around 60 rounds of ammunition for use in battle.

Musket balls were simple spherical projectiles, usually cast from lead. The molten lead was poured into a two-part mould through a channel known as the sprue. Once cooled, the ball was removed and the excess metal cut away. This process often left a small flat mark or ridge where the sprue had been trimmed, as well as a faint seam line from the mould itself.

These imperfections are characteristic of hand-cast ammunition and are commonly visible on surviving examples.

For over 200 years, British soldiers were known as “Redcoats.” The use of red uniforms dates back to 1645 with Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army, the first centrally organised professional army in England. Red dye was relatively inexpensive and became the standard colour for British infantry.

By the 18th and early 19th centuries, the red coat had become a defining feature of the British Army. Visibility on the battlefield was important for command and control, allowing officers to identify and direct troops more easily. Units were distinguished by coloured facings, such as collars and cuffs. Green facings were associated with Light Infantry, blue with Royal regiments, and white with Grenadier or Fusilier companies.

A soldier’s equipment was designed for practicality and endurance. The canvas knapsack, associated with designs by John Trotter, was used to carry personal items and rations. It featured leather binding, a main compartment, and a flap pocket. From 1808, knapsacks were painted black to improve water resistance, and from 1812 they were marked only with regimental numbers. A water canteen formed part of the standard kit.

The shako, or “stovepipe” hat, was introduced in the early 19th century and became common across European armies. Made from felt and leather, it featured a brass plate displaying the Royal motto and regimental details. Its tall, cylindrical shape gave soldiers a more imposing appearance while providing limited protection and shade.

The white crossbelt, worn diagonally across the chest, carried the cartridge box for ammunition and sometimes a bayonet or sword. Positioned for quick access, it allowed soldiers to keep their hands free while ensuring essential equipment was always within reach. The contrast of the white belt against the red coat made soldiers easily identifiable in battle.