Middle Hill (Gibraltar) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Middle Hill |
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Green's Lodge Nature Trail (A-B-C), Green's Lodge Battery (D), Middle Hill Nature Trail (E), Middle Hill Battery (F-G). North is to the left.
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 Middle Hill
Location in Gibraltar
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| Location | Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Gibraltar |
| Parent range | Rock of Gibraltar |
Middle Hill is a cool spot in Gibraltar, a British territory located at the tip of Spain. It's a hill found at the northern end of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. This area played a big part in the early history of Gibraltar, especially during the siege of 1704 when Spanish and French forces tried to take control.
A special artillery battery was built on Middle Hill by 1727. This battery was used for over 200 years! Later, in the mid-1900s, Middle Hill became an "aerial farm" for the Ministry of Defence, which means it had lots of radio equipment. Around 1970, a group of Barbary macaques (monkeys!) moved to Middle Hill. They were fed at some old buildings that used to be part of the battery. In 2005, much of Middle Hill was given to the Government of Gibraltar. Now, the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society helps manage this important natural area.
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Middle Hill's Early History
Middle Hill is located in Gibraltar, a British territory at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. The hill is part of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. You can find several roads on Middle Hill, including Rock Gun Road, Signal Station Road, Middle Hill Road, and Green's Lodge Road.
The 1704 Siege and a Daring Climb
After Gibraltar was captured in August 1704, another attempt to take it back happened later that year. About 500 Spanish soldiers, led by a local goat herder, secretly climbed the Rock of Gibraltar. They started from the south side and reached St. Michael's Cave, where they spent their first night. The next night, they climbed the Charles V Wall and surprised a guard at Middle Hill.
More Spanish soldiers were then pulled up the Rock using ropes and ladders. However, they were discovered! Many were killed or fell over a steep cliff known as the Wolf's Leap. The rest were captured. By 1727, the Middle Hill Battery was built and ready with a gun. This important military spot was used and improved for more than two centuries.
Building Roads and Batteries
In October 1779, work began on a new road at Middle Hill. This road was meant for carriages and was planned to help move a large gun to the new Rock Gun Battery. However, the battery was finished before the road! Later that month, powerful 24-pounder guns were brought to Middle Hill. These guns were for building another new battery below Rock Gun Battery. On October 31, 1779, this new battery was completed and named the Royal Battery.
Middle Hill's Recent History
In the 1950s, Middle Hill became an "aerial farm" for the Ministry of Defence. This meant it was used for radio and communication equipment. In 1958, the radio farm was updated by the Radio Engineering Unit of RAF Henlow. Many new buildings were constructed for this purpose. Sadly, on December 15, 1969, a worker named Corporal Dennis Bowes died in a rock fall while working at the aerial farm.
The Macaques of Middle Hill
For a long time, there were two main groups of Barbary macaques in Gibraltar. One group lived at Apes' Den and the other at Princess Caroline's Battery. By 1946, the military (called the Garrison) was feeding both groups. Around 1970, the Princess Caroline's Battery group moved to Middle Hill.
However, people feeding the monkeys illegally caused the Apes' Den group to split. By 2004, there were six different groups of macaques in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve! When people talk about the "Middle Hill Group," it can mean two things. It might refer to the monkeys who are fed at some old buildings near Middle Hill Battery. Or, it could mean a group of buildings on the cliff, just east of the battery. Today, you can see many old military buildings scattered across Middle Hill.
Transfer of Land and Public Access
For many years, Middle Hill was a restricted military area. The public was not allowed to enter, and going in without permission was against the law. In an agreement signed on April 20, 2004, much of the land at Middle Hill was officially transferred from the Ministry of Defence to the Government of Gibraltar in April 2005.
After this, Ministry of Defence staff left Middle Hill, and most of their equipment was removed. Since the military no longer owned the site, they stopped taking care of it. Even though the land was given to the government, it took about a year and a half for the Government of Gibraltar to fully take responsibility. During this time, there was a lot of damage from vandalism. Also, some areas became unsafe for people.
The Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society now manages the area. They created a plan for the Upper Rock, which included ideas for Middle Hill. Their proposal suggested that Middle Hill should become a biological reserve. This would mean the public could visit, but only with special arrangements.
