The Victualling Yard was a

victualling A victualler is traditionally a person who supplies food, beverages and other provisions for the crew of a vessel at sea. There are a number of other more particular uses of the term, such as: * The official supplier of food to the Royal Navy in ...

facility in the

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built for supplying Royal Navy ships while anchored at

Rosia Bay Rosia Bay is the only natural harbour in Gibraltar, the British Overseas Territory at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. Formerly referred to as Rosia Harbour, it is located on the southwest side of Gibraltar. Rosia Bay was the site of th ...

History

The early history of the Victualling Yard complex is traced back to the late 18th century. At that time, the dockyard was located at the New Mole, now referred to as the South Mole, and victualling was near the Old Mole, now known as the North Mole. 1827 Naval Stores at Rosia Bay

These facilities, however, suffered great damage during the

Great Siege of Gibraltar The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the War of the American Revolution. It was the largest battle in the war by number of combatants. The American war had end ...

due to its proximity to the Spanish land artillery to the north. In 1799, while residing at

Rosia Parade Rosia may refer to: *Rosia, the Greek name for Rus' (region) *Rosia, Sovicille, a village in Tuscany, Italy *Roșia (disambiguation), villages in Romania *Roșia Montană, a commune in Romania *Roșia, a tributary of the river Dorna in Romania *Ro ...

in Gibraltar, John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent, Admiral in Charge of the

Mediterranean Fleet The British Mediterranean Fleet, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was a formation of the Royal Navy. The Fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between t ...

, recommended that the Royal Navy Victualling Yard be relocated to the Rosia Bay area, just south of the New Mole. Governor O'Hara did not approve of St Vincent's plan as he proposed to finance it by selling the naval stores at Waterport and Irish Town. However, St Vincent won. In addition to access to the bay, the site had the advantage of the protection afforded by Parson's Lodge Battery. It had the further advantage of being out of range of enemy gunfire from the North Front. Construction of the

Rosia Water Tanks The Rosia Water Tanks were large water tanks built at the turn of the nineteenth century at Rosia Bay in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. They were constructed based on the recommendation by Admiral John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincen ...

began in 1799 and was completed in 1804 by the contractor

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. The entire Victualling Yard complex at Rosia Bay was completed by 1812. It formed part of the Royal Navy base and contained stores of food, water, and clothing in sufficient quantities for a large fleet. The

Rosia Mole Rosia may refer to: *Rosia, the Greek name for Rus' (region) *Rosia, Sovicille, a village in Tuscany, Italy *Roșia (disambiguation), villages in Romania *Roșia Montană, a commune in Romania *Roșia, a tributary of the river Dorna in Romania *Ro ...

was the berthing place for the Royal Navy vessels seeking provisions and water from the Victualling Yard complex; it also held coal for the garrison.

Conservation

The complex was in use as a victualling yard until the 1980s and remained in

Ministry of Defence {{unsourced, date=February 2021 A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...

hands until 2004. It was described as 'until recently the best and least altered example of a Nvictualling depot' outside the British isles; however, the entrance to the Victualling Yard complex is the only portion to be listed with the Gibraltar Heritage Trust. Having taken ownership, the Gibraltar government demolished the unique underground water tanks in 2006, in the face of international opposition.

References

{{Buildings in Gibraltar Buildings and structures in Gibraltar Water transport in Gibraltar