The Orillon Batteries were artillery batteries in the

British Overseas Territory The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen dependent territory, territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. They are the last remna ...

Gibraltar ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song = " Gibraltar Anthem" , image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg , map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe , map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green , mapsize = , image_map2 = Gib ...

. The batteries were three-storey gun positions within a natural fault in the

Rock of Gibraltar The Rock of Gibraltar (from the Arabic name Jabel-al-Tariq) is a monolithic limestone promontory located in the British territory of Gibraltar, near the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, and near the entrance to the Mediterr ...

Description

The Orillon Batteries are part of what is known as the ''Northern Defences'' which include these batteries together with

Bomb Proof Battery Bomb Proof Battery was an artillery battery near Bomb Proof Barracks in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. The battery was located at the south end of the King's Lines on the north-west face of the Rock of Gibraltar. It comprised a casem ...

, Hanover Gallery, Kings and Queens Galleries,

Star Chamber Cave Star Chamber Cave is a limestone cave in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. In the 1780s the cave became the centre of tunnels known as the '' Lower Galleries'' of the ''Northern Defences''. In 1941 this cave was still in military use as ...

, Commons Hall and St. Patrick's Chamber. These lie behind the blocks of government flats called ''Laguna Estate'' in Gibraltar's north district and are currently closed to the public. These batteries are part of the '' Lower Galleries''. There were thought to have been four Orillon batteries but it is unclear where the 2nd and 4th batteries were. The batteries had a three-storey gun position within a natural fault in the Rock. The 1st Orillon Gallery can be found by descending stairs called ''Pages Raise'' (Named after 2nd Lieutenant Page of the 178 Tunnelling Coy R.E.) step off Queens Gallery which is an arterial tunnel on the eastern side of the ''Northern Defences''. This battery had three guns. The 3rd Orillon Gallery is at the centre of the ''Northern Defences'' and links into St. Patrick's Chamber. The gallery dates from 1788 but the battery disappeared some time later. This space was used as a kitchen and a period oven is still in situ. Evidence of the substantial wooden floor that was created for the 3rd battery can still be seen. The battery was created by large planks that would have rested on the perimeter ledges that can still be seen. They would have created a platform for the battery nearly two metres above the existing floor.

References

{{Fortifications of Gibraltar Batteries in Gibraltar 1788 establishments in the British Empire