Heritage News 001

Issued: 5th April 2013

Welcome

The purpose of this new e-newsletter is to keep members more up to date with the work of the Gibraltar Heritage Trust. Please do contact us and let us know whether you find them useful and we will endeavor to keep them coming on a regular basis.

The Main Guard

Works to the Main Guard, the Trust’s office, started in February. The initial works which are programmed to take 3 months will repair and restore the roof which is vitally important to the long term survival of this historic building. It is hoped that the next phase, which will restore the façade of the building will roll on once the roof is repaired. In the meantime the office has moved to the ground floor, whilst works are undertaken. Our shop and public counter is still open so do pop in to see us when you are in the area.

Southport Gates

You will have noticed scaffolding going up at Southport Gates. This section of wall was cleared of creepers at the beginning of the year and is the process it was discovered that the wall, although assessed to be stable, was in a poor state of repair. Recent rains have further compromised the fabric of the wall and the decision was taken for works to start immediately. The works are being coordinated by the Ministry for Heritage in consultation with Technical Services Department and the Heritage Trust.

As an extension to the project the adjacent St Jago’s Arch will also be given some restorative attention, which is a necessity the Trust has been pushing for for some years now. In fact, the whole of the stretch of wall in this area is being assessed with a view to a larger scale restoration and maintenance programme being undertaken.

Engineer Gardens Sentry Box

The Trust has been liaising with Cassais, the main contractor on the site to restore and conserve the Sentry Box. The work to re-point the brickwork is still in progress, but when completed will give this antiquity the prominence it deserves. When the escalator to the Upper Town is installed, this area of the old town will become a thoroughfare for pedestrians and the Sentry Box can be appreciated by many.  We welcome this type of symbiotic relationship.

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Heritage Journal

Heritage Journal No 19 is out now. Copies are available from the Trust and local bookshops.