The Flat Bastion Magazine is a 19th-century magazine in the British Overseas Territory of

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 ...

. It is located within the

Flat Bastion Flat Bastion is a bastion which projects southward from the Charles V Wall in the British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Once known as the St. Jago's Bastion or the Baluarte de Santiago in Spanish language, Spani ...

, a

fortification A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere' ...

that projects from the 16th century Charles V Wall at the former southern limit of the city.

Flat Bastion Road Flat Bastion Road is a road in Gibraltar, the British Overseas Territory at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. The road runs north–south, providing views of the city and Bay of Gibraltar. Previously known in Spanish as ''Senda del Mo ...

extends through the bastion, just to the west of the magazine, south of which it becomes Gardiner's Road. Flat Bastion Magazine was constructed to store

gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Th ...

, but eventually lay abandoned for years. While the

Government of Gibraltar His Majesty's Government of Gibraltar is the democratically elected government of the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. The head of state is King Charles III who is represented by the Governor. Elections in Gibraltar are held every four ...

initially planned to develop it for parking,

geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ea ...

enthusiast Freddie Gomez and a colleague restored the building, which is now used as a geological research facility and exhibition centre. Both the Flat Bastion and the Flat Bastion Magazine are listed with the

Gibraltar Heritage Trust The Gibraltar Heritage Trust is a non-profit charity established by statute on 1 May 1989 to preserve and promote the cultural natural heritage of the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Funding and responsibilities The Trust collaborates wit ...

. In addition, Gomez received the 2001 Heritage Award for the restoration of the building.

Early history

The Flat Bastion Magazine is a magazine in Gibraltar, the British Overseas Territory at the southern end of the

Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula (), ** * Aragonese and Occitan: ''Peninsula Iberica'' ** ** * french: Péninsule Ibérique * mwl, Península Eibérica * eu, Iberiar penintsula also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in southwestern Europe, def ...

. It is within the eastern portion ''(highlighted in map below)'' of the Flat Bastion, one of the fortifications of Gibraltar that projects southward from the Charles V Wall and constituted part of the defences of the former southern limit of the city. Flat Bastion Road traverses the Flat Bastion, extending along the west side of the Flat Bastion Magazine. Access to the road at the north end of the bastion is provided by a gate ''(depicted in map below and in photograph at left)'' in the Charles V Wall, while at the south end of the bastion, a portion of its face has been removed ''(pictured in panoramic above)''. Immediately south of the bastion and its magazine, the road becomes Gardiner's Road. The magazine was built on

scree Scree is a collection of broken rock fragments at the base of a cliff or other steep rocky mass that has accumulated through periodic rockfall. Landforms associated with these materials are often called talus deposits. Talus deposits typically ...

breccia Breccia () is a rock composed of large angular broken fragments of minerals or rocks cemented together by a fine-grained matrix. The word has its origins in the Italian language, in which it means "rubble". A breccia may have a variety of ...

, with an underlying bedrock of

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

. The ground on which the magazine was constructed was relatively flat due to " quaternary wave-cut platforms." While it is generally considered likely that a magazine was formerly present on the same site, the current, British magazine dates back to at least 1873, based on the date inscribed on a keystone over one of the doorways ''(pictured at left)''. The Flat Bastion Magazine was constructed primarily of locally quarried limestone blocks. It was built in wartime to store approximately 5,000 barrels of gunpowder. Many of the original wooden supports are still present. The primary storage area for gunpowder has been described as "a room within a room" as it is surrounded by a narrow hallway. Windows are present at the side walls of the principal room. Bricks were utilized in the construction of the walls, to absorb the impact of explosions. The doors were fabricated from oak that dates back five or six centuries, well before the British version of the magazine was built.

Restoration

Gibraltarian Freddie Gomez, whose interests include history and geology, has looked after Flat Bastion Magazine for years, and believes that it dates back to before 1873. The building had been abandoned for an extended period of time before his decision to restore it. It is now a geological research facility and exhibition centre, Geological Research Station and Lithology of Gibraltar, and displays a large collection of rocks and minerals. While many of the displayed pieces come from his personal collection, a number have been donated. In 2001, the Gibraltar Heritage Trust presented Gomez with the 2001 Heritage Award in the senior individual category for "his enthusiasm and single-minded dedication to the restoration and preservation of Flat Bastion Magazine." Since 1993, the award has been presented annually by the Trust. During a two-week training period in Gibraltar, the

150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment (Volunteers) 150 Regiment RLC is a regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps Army Reserve in the United Kingdom History The regiment was formed in the Royal Corps of Transport in 1967, as 150th (Northumbrian) Transport Regiment from seven territorial transport reg ...

from

Doncaster Doncaster (, ) is a city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, it is the administrative centre of the larger City of Doncaster. It is the second largest settlement in South Yorkshire after Sheffield. Doncaster is situated in ...

and

Kingston upon Hull Kingston upon Hull, usually abbreviated to Hull, is a port city and unitary authority in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It lies upon the River Hull at its confluence with the Humber Estuary, inland from the North Sea and south-ea ...

spent a day at the Flat Bastion Magazine. The regiment assisted Gomez by performing a variety of repairs on the historic building. The fire step, roof, railings, pillars, wall, and letter box were refurbished. Gomez, who has been described as "entertainingly garrulous and delightfully eccentric," is primarily self-taught and knowledgeable on the topic of Gibraltar's geology. A native of Gibraltar, he initially completed his formal education at the age of fifteen when he was apprenticed out by his father. He spent time in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

but returned to Gibraltar in 1986, after which he developed a passion for geology. He obtained a certificate in

sedimentary geology ''Sedimentary Geology'' is a peer-reviewed scientific journal about sediments in a geological context published by Elsevier Elsevier () is a Dutch academic publishing company specializing in scientific, technical, and medical content. It ...

from the

University of Durham Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by royal charte ...

about 1997. Gomez established the Gibraltar Cave Exploration and Protection Group, although the organisation soon dissolved. However, it was through that organisation that Gomez developed a friendship with

geologist A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid, liquid, and gaseous matter that constitutes Earth and other terrestrial planets, as well as the processes that shape them. Geologists usually study geology, earth science, or geophysics, althoug ...

Paul Hopkinson, who has also been instrumental in the restoration of the magazine. Flat Bastion Magazine had initially been slated to be redeveloped as a parking garage. The two men collaborated to save the historic Gibraltar structure. Both the Flat Bastion Magazine and the structure within which it is contained, the Flat Bastion, are

listed buildings In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

with the Gibraltar Heritage Trust. Heritage Minister Steven Linares and several others toured Flat Bastion Magazine on 27 March 2012. Gomez related the details of the magazine's structure and history to his audience. While visits to the facility are currently by appointment only, it is anticipated that the Flat Bastion Magazine will be opened to the public.

Gallery

File:Gibraltar Model 1865 (7).jpg, 1865 scale model of Gibraltar showing Charles V Wall with

. File:Flat Bastion Magazine South Entrance.png, Southern entrance to Flat Bastion Magazine. File:Flat Bastion Magazine interior.png, Bricks also used in construction of the magazine. File:Flat Bastion Magazine wooden supports.png, Wooden supports in interior of Flat Bastion Magazine.

References

External links

Photograph of exterior of Flat Bastion Magazine and Flat Bastion Road
{{Fortifications of Gibraltar Fortifications in Gibraltar Magazines (artillery)