Devil's Tongue Battery

Devil's Tongue Battery is an artillery fortification at the southeastern end of the Old Mole in Gibraltar. It features brick-built gun embrasures that remain largely intact and visible today as part of the territory's historic defense network.

This battery was part of Gibraltar's defense system and saw use during the Great Siege from 1779 to 1783. Military engineer John Fox Burgoyne later adapted it in 1848 to focus specifically on protecting the harbor.

The fortification displays its original brick construction with gun embrasures that visitors can observe firsthand. This preserved structure serves as a physical record of how Gibraltar prepared its defenses during tense periods.

The battery sits between a garden center and Waterport Avenue, making it easy to locate from that direction. Due to harbor development and land reclamation, the original coastal location is now inland, so visitors should not expect a direct waterfront position.

The name comes from the distinctive shape of its gun embrasures, which resemble a protruding tongue when viewed from certain angles. This playful naming reflects how soldiers and engineers gave character to defensive structures.

Location: Gibraltar

GPS coordinates: 36.14635,-5.35530

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:12