Eighteenth-century fortified defensive lines overlooking Gibraltar’s landward northern approaches.
Queen’s Lines are fortified defensive lines on the north-west face of the Rock of Gibraltar, part of the fortifications of Gibraltar. Built in 1788 along a natural ledge, they extend the King’s Lines, overlook the landward entrance, and are abandoned but still linked to adjacent batteries and galleries.
Queen’s Lines are fortified defensive lines forming part of the Fortifications of Gibraltar, situated on the lower slopes of the north-west face of the Rock of Gibraltar. They occupy a natural ledge overlooking the landward entrance to Gibraltar and continue north-east from the King’s Lines, running from the Orillon, a natural fault, to a cliff above the modern Laguna Estate on the former site of the Inundation, an artificial lake created to obstruct landward access. Behind and above them, on a higher ledge, run the Prince’s Lines. All three sets of lines were constructed to enfilade attackers approaching Gibraltar’s Landport Front from the landward side. The Lines were built in 1788 on the route of an earlier access path to the Granada Gate, where a much earlier irregular defensive wall, probably of Spanish or Moorish origin, had existed. During William Green’s tenure as Senior Engineer between 1761 and 1783, the Lines were repaired, improved, fortified, and the cliffs below were scarped. They are connected to the King’s Lines and Prince’s Lines by underground communication galleries. Queen’s Lines saw action in the Great Siege of Gibraltar, when they were heavily bombarded and significantly damaged in September 1782. Their condition is now listed as abandoned.
