Historic coastal artillery place-of-arms between North Bastion and Counterguard.
West Place of Arms is a place-of-arms within the fortifications of Gibraltar, on Corral Road. Originally used as a troop assembly point, it lies between the North Bastion and its 1804 Counterguard, which provided defensive cover. The site, once heavily armed, is now overgrown but open to the public.
West Place of Arms is a place-of-arms forming part of the Fortifications of Gibraltar, in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Located on Corral Road, it occupies the gap between the North Bastion and its Counterguard, a defensive structure built in 1804. The Counterguard provided defensive cover for the West Place of Arms, which was further protected by a ditch into which a large caponier projected. In 1834 the Counterguard was recorded as being armed with thirteen 24‑pounder guns and two 9‑pounder guns. Between 1859 and 1863 these were replaced by ten 32‑pounder guns and two 8‑inch howitzers. By 1885 the armament comprised three 32‑pounder smoothbore guns, two 8‑inch howitzers and four 64‑pounder rifled muzzle loaders, and the remaining guns were gradually replaced by rifled muzzle loaders in the final years of the 19th century. The West Place of Arms was originally used as a troop assembly point within Gibraltar’s coastal artillery defences. The site is owned by the Government of Gibraltar. It is recorded as being in an overgrown condition but is open to the public, preserving visible elements of Gibraltar’s historic military infrastructure.
