No. 4 Dock; resurrection.

In the last decade of the 19^th century, the contractors Topham, Jones and Railton were engaged in constructing the dockyard that we know today. They built railways, drove tunnels, cast enormous numbers of concrete blocks and excavated New Mole Parade to become the three dry docks, now operated by Gibdock.  One of their early tasks was to build a small dry dock, opposite King’s Bastion, then still a military establishment. The dock was needed to service and repair the seventy dredgers, tugs, barges and cranes employed on site; and was used by some local steamers as well. When the works were complete, 4 Dock was subsequently used by the Admiralty.

 That dock was 250 feet long, with an entrance 46ft wide and a depth of 11ft over the sill. All imperial measurements, you will note dear reader. Imperial measurements were the Empire’s gift to the world; only continental Europe and their territories used metrics. The build came in at £8000, including the dredging of an entrance channel, the gates and all equipment. It was founded on good shale (as are Westside, Varyl Begg, etc) and the bottom was laid with 1 foot of concrete, whilst the sides were lined with rubble masonry. The gates were simple in design and very cheaply constructed, consisting only of baulks of pitch-pine laid one on another with vertical bolts. They varied in size from 14 inches by 14 inches at the bottom to 12 inches by 6 inches at the top, and the gates cost 1 shilling and 6 pence per square foot, erected complete, which was thought a bargain price for dock-gates across a 46-foot entrance.

 

                                           This is how 4 Dock looked in the 1902 Ordnance Survey.

At that time, everything outside the city walls was water, save for chains of rubble breakwaters laid a few yards off the walls to dissipate the force of the waves. Subsequent reclamations gave us the Naval Grounds, Chiltern Court estate and the site which would become HMS Rooke. Rooke was established in 1940, initially as a stores site, and was destined to replace HMS Cormorant in the Navy’s affections. The building which we all knew - and some loved – only began to take shape in early 1969, until on Saturday June 9^th the labour force was withdrawn and the frontier closed. It then took Willie Serfaty’s building company and his UK partner Whatleys more than two years to prepare accommodation for, and to recruit, a new labour force of 5000 to continue the works, which were completed in the mid ‘70s. The completion was good news for the many naval personnel berthed all over the rock, especially those in caravans; just imagine life in a caravan in January or August. Rooke continued in navy use until 1996 and it is where this humble scribe recalls once being accosted by an intimidating group of libertine Wrens, clad only in towels.

 When the Navy vacated the site, it became home to the GSP and a BFBS studio and 4 Dock remained as an adventurous training centre. Eventually the site was handed to Government as part of the Lands Deal; all the buildings were demolished and 4 Dock was filled in. For many of us it was the end of an era and the loss of a heritage asset. But surprisingly, a resurrection is in the offing.  

With encouragement from Government, the developer Carlton Properties and architects WSM are to incorporate – at least a part of the dock - as perhaps a sunken garden or public social area. 

 

                              Today: 4 Dock occupied the area of St John Ambulance and RGPO car park.

 

           First published at Gibraltar History Society Chronicle 2024. Paul Hodkinson.