Rosia Water Tanks, Military water storage facility in Rosia Bay, Gibraltar.
Rosia Water Tanks is an underground structure in Rosia Bay consisting of six parallel chambers built with British bricks and sand-lime mortar. The facility operated with a gravity-fed rainwater collection system that drew from the adjacent Victualling Yard roof to store water for naval use.
Construction of these tanks took place between 1799 and 1804 on the recommendation of Admiral John Jervis to secure a reliable water supply for the Royal Navy. They served naval vessels engaged in Mediterranean operations throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
The tanks supported British naval operations in the Mediterranean, including Nelson's fleet before and after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
The tanks are located in Rosia Bay and are no longer accessible as a functioning facility since they were demolished in 2006 for residential development. Visitors can learn about this site through historical records and heritage information available in the area.
The facility remained operational until 2004 and in its later years stored desalinated water, adapting its purpose to modern water processing methods. This evolution reflects how military infrastructure evolved to meet changing technological demands.
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