Wilson's Cave

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Wilson's Cave
Gibraltar

Access to Wilson's Cave by a small ladder
Co-ordinates: 36°8’9"N, 5°21’10"W

Wilson's Cave is a cave in Gibraltar which opens into the Rock off Governor's Beach. It is a site of major archaeological significance.[1]

Another cave in Gibraltar was named 'Wilson's Cave' in the past; now known as Gorham's Cave.

A 1944 map of the Batteries and underground tunnels of Gibraltar by Colonel Joseph Marie Emile "Pop" Gareze shows Wilson's Cave near the Magazine Ramp of Green Lane Magazine, to the north of Flat Bastion Hospital.[2]

The cave is named after Major W.H. Wilson, who commanded a company of the Royal Engineers.[3]

History

Tito Vallejo states that the cave was discovered when Magazine Ramp was being excavated during Second World War. A section of the ramp's tunnel collapsed and revealed a natural cavity in the limestone.[2][3]

In November 1944 the Illustrated London News reported that British Sappers had discovered a new cave, named "Wilson's Cave" after the commander of the tunneling party that found it. The cave was reported to be about 60 feet long and had an average height of about 30 feet. It contained attractive stalgmites and stactites with diameters ranging from under one inch to over one foot. A steep "glacier" of limestone flowed from one end of the cave. A formation in the roof was reported to resemble a petrified curtain.[4]

The miners were carrying out extensive tunnelling within the Rock to develop a structure to absorb a possible blast (known as a blast trap) from an exploding magazine when part of the tunnel caved into the natural cavity.

The magazine was served from Doncaster Adit off the Great North Road which supplied vehicular access to the outside.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Rose 1997, p. 276.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chipulina 2019.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Vallejo.
  4. ↑ British Sappers Discover a New Cave.
  5. ↑ "Doncaster Adit ...see index". DiscoverGibraltar.com. http://www.discovergibraltar.com/pages/mainlogo/mainfrm.htm. 


Caves of Gibraltar

Abbot's • Alameda Grotto • Ape's Den • Beefsteak • Bell's Backyard • Bellman's • Bennet's • Blackstrap • Boathoist / Bulman's • Bray's • Brown's • Buena Vista • Buffadero • Caleta Palace • Camp Bay • Catalan Bay Road • Catalan Bay • Catchment • Cave S • Collin's • Comcen • Coptic • Cormorant • Cousin's • Crystal • Crystal Cavern • Cumberland • Dead Man's • Devil's Dustbin • Devil's Fall • Devil's Gap • Devil's Tower • Diesel's Delight • Douglas • Dudley Ward's • E Queen's Line • Europa Advance • Europa Pass • Fig Tree • Forbe's Quarry • Genista Caves • George's Bottom • Gibbon's • Glen Rocky, Shelter • Goat's Hair • Goat's Head • Gorham's • Gunn's • Harley Street • Hayne's • Holy Boy's • Horseshoe • Ince's • John's Giant • Judge's • Landport • Leonora's • Levant • Liddell's Union • Lookout • Mammoth • Marble Arch • Martin's • Martin's Guard • McNeil's • Mediterranean • Middle Hill • Monkey's • Moorish Castle Barracks • Moor's • Mount Misery • Mousterian Rock Shelter • Mushroom • Nameless • Nursery • O'Hara's • Operation Monkey • Painter's • Parson's Lodge • Pete's Paradise • Poca Roca • Queen's • Queen's Lines • Ragged Staff • Reservoir 4, & 5 • Reservoir Fissure • Rifle Dustbin • Rock Fall • Rock Gun • Rock Gun Catchment Shelter • Ronald's Delight • St Michael's, Old, New, Lower, Roof Passage • Sandy: Lower, Upper • Sapper's Bog Scorpion • Sea Caves • Shed • Signal Troop • Smart's Well Reserve • Smith’s • Smuggler's • South • Spanish Mine • Spider • Spur Road • Star Chamber • Swallow's Nest • Tina's • Transmitter • Upper All's Well • Vanguard • Viney Quarry • William's • Willis • Wilson's • Winkies

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