Monkey's Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monkey's Cave |
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Abandoned Monkey’s Cave Convalescent Hospital
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Monkey's Cave is a fascinating cave found in Gibraltar, a special British territory. This cave has a long history. It was once part of Gibraltar's strong defenses. Later, in 1942, it even became a hospital for soldiers getting better. After that, it served as the main office for the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
A Look Inside Monkey's Cave
Monkey's Cave was known by different names in the past. On a French map from 1811, it was called Batterie de la Caverne. By 1859, people simply called it Monkey Cave. It was one of the few forts on the eastern side of Gibraltar.
World War II and Hospital Use
During the Second World War, Monkey's Cave played an important role. It was used as an entry point to a secret, man-made tunnel system. This tunnel was called AROW Street. It was a safe place to store ammunition and other important supplies. Inside the cave's entrance, a special hospital was built. This hospital was for soldiers who were recovering from injuries or illness.
Engineers in the Rock
In 1953, soldiers from the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers used Monkey's Cave. They would go through the cave to reach their instrument workshop. This workshop was hidden deep inside the Rock of Gibraltar. These engineers traveled through many internal roads within the Rock to get to their special cave. Their workshop even had windows! This allowed them to work with natural light. From their cave, they could see amazing views across the Straits of Gibraltar all the way to Africa.
