Historic artillery battery and barracks on Gibraltar’s Rock northern defences.
Bomb Proof Battery was an artillery battery near Bomb Proof Barracks in Gibraltar. Located at the south end of the King’s Lines on the Rock of Gibraltar’s north-west face, it formed part of the Northern Defences. The casemated battery was built on two levels with embrasures in old Spanish defences.
Bomb Proof Battery was an artillery battery near Bomb Proof Barracks in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It was situated at the south end of the King’s Lines on the north-west face of the Rock of Gibraltar, within the wider Fortifications of Gibraltar and the area known as the Northern Defences, alongside features such as Castle Batteries, Princes Gallery and Forbes’ Battery. The position consisted of a casemated battery constructed on two levels, each with two embrasures built into earlier Spanish defences. Those earlier works had been constructed above the former Puerta de Villavieja some time in the 16th century. Part of Bomb Proof Battery was later built over when the King’s Lines Battery was constructed. The recorded armament of Bomb Proof Battery changed over time. In 1781 it mounted one 18‑pounder and one 4‑pounder. By 1834 it carried two 18‑pounders and one 24‑pounder carronade, and in 1859 two 24‑pounders. In 1885 it was equipped with two 12‑pounders. During the Second World War it was re‑equipped with a 25‑pounder installed in 1941 and a 17‑pounder anti‑tank gun installed in 1943. Ownership is recorded as the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence.
