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Southport Gates
Gibraltar is one place that is experiencing rapid progress and
development. Yet, unlike modern contemporary towns, Gibraltar has not
totally turned its back from its glorious past. In fact, a great portion
of the area has been devoted to remembering the many things and events
that the territory has encountered since the first day that it was
initially discovered by early settlers.
Much of the history of the city is represented in the many walls, gates,
tunnels, and fortresses that virtually enclose the town. These are all
ancient landmarks that have their origins to the first day when the Muslim
Moors landed on the shores of Gibraltar up to the time when they were
driven away by the Spaniards, then continued on to the period of the
British invasion. The last event also happened to be the time when
Gibraltar began to emerge as a stronghold of the British army.
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Inside the Rock
Upon entering the town, signs of modernity can be observed even after
one has crossed over to the opposite lane soon after coming from the
airport road. This is because even as one walks past Main Street, one
will get to pass by the main shopping complex of Gibraltar where
quality products ranging from jewelries, porcelains, leather goods,
perfume, wines, paintings, and potteries can be found being sold at
relatively lower prices especially when compared with those being sold
outside of Gibraltar, most specifically Spain and even the United
States. Additionally, the street also plays host to a duty-free shop,
acknowledged as the only one known to be in existence in the entire
European area. It comes as no big surprise therefore that Gibraltar
should be aptly called by many shoppers as the shopping haven in
Western Mediterranean.
Yet, if one prefers to get a glimpse of what Gibraltar was like prior
to the emergence of the concept of development in the region, it is
inside the inner limits of the city where tourists, both local and
foreign, will be able to retrace the path back to that particular
period in the history of the area. The time when the city was just
starting to create its destiny. It is also in this area of the city
where many interesting stories are waiting to be told by the walls and
the gates that stand mightily at the entrance point to central
Gibraltar.
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A Walled History
While there are numerous wonderful places that ought to be visited in
Gibraltar, one should realize that many of these sites are actually a
representation of the many real events that took place in and around
the town. While they may draw inspiration and awe from visitors, it is
only in understanding why they came about that one can truly
appreciate the genuine beauty behind each of these attractions. As
such, getting to hear their stories should always be sought.
Gibraltar is a town that was under siege many times in the past. This
has led several of its early colonizers to put up various defenses at
the entrance point of the city to protect Gibraltar as well as
themselves from the enemy that is constantly threatening to take over
the area. These defenses are in the form of walls, tunnels, gates, and
other such fortresses and practically covers the entire length of
Gibraltar. A great number of them still stands up to the present time,
inviting visitors from different parts of the globe to come over and
see these for themselves.
When visiting the varied places around Gibraltar, one will most likely get
to come across the walled gates situated at both ends of the city. On the
north corner, one can see Landport Gate which was rebuilt sometime in
1727. Originally, this was the only path that will allow people to gain
entry into the town proper.
On the opposite corner, the south corner, three gates stand guard. These
are Prince Edward’s Gate, Ragged Staff Gate, and the Southport Gates. Of
these three, Southport Gates has a fairly interesting background.
Originally, the gates were considered as the southernmost end of Gibraltar
basically based on the fact that they are found on the southern corner the
most famous street in Gibraltar, Main Street. The gates also happen to be
members of the early fortifications established to protect the town from
foreign invaders and have been in existence for several centuries now.
They can be sighted quite easily the moment one gets past Governor’s House
immediately after reaching the limits of Main Street.
The early beginnings of Southport Gates have their origins at the time
when Gibraltar was still under Spanish rule, which was around the seventh
century. Its evolution can be said to closely tie in with the early
beginnings of Gibraltar itself.
During that time, the Muslim Arabs decided to invade Spain under the
leadership of Tarik, consequently declaring Gibraltar as its own and
naming the area as Gibel Tarik, literally translated to mean “the mountain
of Tarik” . The name Gibel Tarik eventually received various alterations
in the succeeding centuries, resulting to the name that the area now
carries — Gibraltar.
Tarik, however, was not credited for having founded the town of Gibraltar.
The founding took place approximately five hundred years after he died.
What Tarik did though was build an ancient fortress at the exact spot upon
which the present Southport Gates presently stand. This fortress most
probably served as the foundation upon which the gates were constructed.
It was Abd-al-Mummin, the Morocco sultan, who is said to have founded
Gibraltar around 1160. It was most probably during his time that the model
for the first of three gates of the Southport gates was believed to have
started being planned.
Gibraltar was eventually retaken by Spanish forces after a period of over
200 years. The Arabs were obviously forced to surrender Algerciras. It is
approximately during this period that the conquerors decided to extend the
borders of the city beyond the Southport Gates. It should be noted that
prior to the re-invasion, the Southport Gates served as the border of
Gibraltar. Additionally, when the Castillians started the construction of
the streets leading to the lower part of Gibraltar, the town experienced
significant gradual development, eventually resulting to Gibraltar
evolving into a major city.
The Southport Gates Composition
Southport Gates is actually composed of three separate gates, each one
built several centuries apart basically depending on the whims and desires
of whoever was the Gibraltar ruler during that particular period.
Nevertheless, each of them share a common feature, and that is, each one
of them has been cut in one large Gibraltar wall.
The first of the Southport Gates was built between the years 1551 and 1552
during the reign of Emperor Charles V. It was referred to as Africa Gate
and its original design included the building of a draw bridge. Actually,
when the first Southport gate was finished being constructed, a real draw
bridge was included with a corresponding moat beneath, very much like
those usually depicted in ancient stories of knights, kings and queens
living in magnificent castles. This is most probably the same castle that
was constructed by Sultan Abd-al-Mummin of Morocco, or at least part of
its remains. Either way, for still unknown reasons, the draw bridge and
the moat were both removed eventually.
The archway of Africa gate carried two Arms, namely the Arms of Gibraltar
and the Arms of Spain, both of them found at the bottom of the archway,
specifically on the left side. The right corner bore the Coat of Arms
which many believed was owned by Marques de Mondejar.
An added attraction of the Africa Gate is the Pillars of Hercules, which
it likewise bears quite proudly. The pillar is said to have an inscription
of the words “Å“plus ultra”, which denotes the New World discovery.
Sometime in 1883, a second gate was constructed along the great Southport
Gate lane. The archway of this particular gate holds several significant
images. These are the Unicorn image, the British Lion image, the Castle
and Key images, and two Arms, those of Queen Victoria and of General Sir
John Adye, who was Gibraltar Governor during the time that the second
Southport gate was being constructed.
It is said that changes were made on this second gate of the Southport
Gates sometime in 1899. During this period, Barbarossa, a mildly known
pirate, was said to have invaded the town of Gibraltar. His attack
resulted in many local residents being captured and eventually being sold
as slaves in foreign lands. It still remains unclear, however, if the
pirate attack was the main reason for the changes made on the second gate
of the Southport Gates. There are stories though of another pirate, Henry
Morgan, who launched a grand attack on Gibraltar sometime in 1669 and
walked away with a sizable plunder consisting of about 50,000 pounds, and
several valuable goods as well as human slaves.
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The last of the three gates is considered
as the widest that compose the Southport Gates. Built
sometime in 1967, it was called Referendum Gate, although
some sources refer to it as Referendum Arch. Either way, the
gate, put up on the western corner, was in commemoration of
a significant event in Gibraltar history — the referendum
act held that year in Gibraltar wherein majority of the
people of Gibraltar voted in overwhelming fashion against a
possible return to Spanish rule. Rather, Gibraltarians opted
to remain under the general control of the British.
Additionally, when this particular gate was formally opened,
the Trafalgar Cemetery was extended beyond its western
border. During the preceding century, the area was known for
being a large market garden.
The Present Southport Gates
As mentioned before, the Southport Gates used to be referred to as the
southernmost border of Gibraltar. Beyond Southport Gates, the land did not
belong to Gibraltarians. However, with the developments adapted by the
Spaniards, basically extending the borders of Gibraltar outside of
Southport Gates, there are now several areas beyond the gates that are
worth visiting and still considered part of Gibraltar’s diverse culture.
Perhaps, the most famous of these sites is the Trafalgar Cemetery. Unknown
to many, the area was formerly called Southport Ditch Cemetery.
Previously, the area composed the overall defense structure of Gibraltar
as designed by the Spaniards. It even appeared in an ancient map designed
in 1627 by Luis Bravo that is presently on display in a museum in Great
Britain. |
Southport Ditch was a burial ground during the periods 1798 up to 1814.
Thereafter, it was stopped from being used, although one tombstone that
has a burial date of 1838 still remains here up to the present time. Some
of the earlier tombstones that were originally from the nearby St. Jago’s
cemetery were eventually transferred here sometime in 1932. In addition,
several stones some dating back to as far as the late 1700’s have also
been placed in here. In recent years, many tombstones that used to be
housed at the Alameda Gardens were also transported to Southport Ditch.
Eventually, however, the area was renamed as the Trafalgar Cemetery in
honor of those who perished in the Battle of Trafalgar, an event that took
place some seven years after Southport Ditch was formally consecrated.
In truth, however, the Trafalgar Cemetery only hosts two of the many who
perished in the infamous battle. These are Lieutenant William Forster and
Lieutenant Thomas Norman. Majority of the dead soldiers were actually
scattered over the vast sea while the rest who died soon after due to
wounds were given their burial rites at the opposite corner of the burial
site, at the Charles V. Wall north side, where a small commemorative
plaque stands in their honor.
Southport Gates is merely but one of Gibraltar’s many great fortresses
that can be found practically in every area of the city. They stand, not
only as clear reflections of the rich and glorious past of Gibraltar, but
also as strong and mighty guardians of the territory against its enemies,
real or otherwise.
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