Buena Vista (‘Good View’) is the Spanish name given to a rocky promontory overlooking the rolling slopes of the Devil’s Bowling Green to the South and two small coves to the West known as la Cala de los Remedios (Camp Bay) and la Cala del Laudero (Little Bay). These cliffs were considered unassailable as the rocky coves below were frequently swept by strong currents.

A watchtower, which the contemporary Spanish chronicler Pedro Barrantes refers to as the Genoese Tower, was erected near the cliff edge as part of the town’s early warning defence system. This watchtower stood at the northern end of what would be Buena Vista parade ground. The ruins of this medieval tower is still visible today.

Barrantes gives an account of the verbal exchange between the two guards on this tower overlooking El laudero and the Turkish Corsairs who had concealed themselves under the cove prior to the sacking of Gibraltar on the 10^th September 1540. The guards, on seeing the approaching pirates, and realising their intent ran back to town to raise the alarm.

Site of old watchtower to the south of Buena Vista Battery.

The foundations of the watchtower is still visile today.

The actual Buena Vista battery, dates to the eighteenth century. It was initially an observation post with basic amenities such as a guardroom, which had to be rebuilt after falling into ruin. According to Colonel Green's Report of 1770, the during previous year the Sea Line Wall and the line of the coast from Prince William's Battery joining immediately to the south east angle of the New Mole Fort received, 'all kind of repair and reformation as far as the guardroom at Buena Vista'.

To the west of the guardroom, along the defensive wall of the former parade ground stood the Buena Vista battery. The primary function of Buena Vista Battery, whose name is an obvious reference to its promontory position on top of a cliff edge, was to defend Camp Bay.

Buena Vista links to Parson’s Lodge, by a long curtain wall, which remains visible to this today. Unlike some other batteries of the same period, which saw little action, Buena Vista became an important component of the Europa Fortifications and was in active use well into the twentieth century.

1799, Barbié du Bocage map showing the defensive walls of Europa. The guardroom at Buena Vista is clearly visible.

In 1770, it was armed with three 13-inch mortars. In 1781, it mounted three 18-pounders, one 10-inch howitzer, and one 13-inch Sea Service mortar. By 1834, there were also two 8-inch howitzers and two dismounted 32-pounders.

Buena Vista Barracks bombproof was constructed to house 400 men following Major General Sir John Thomas Jones designs of 1840. The site of the battery, however, remained unaffected.

In fact, in 1868 there was a recommendation by Colonel William Francis Drummond Jervois to install a heavy RML gun on this site. In 1870, an open iron shielded emplacement for a 9-inch RML gun was incorporated; however, it was not installed before 1872.

Buena Vista Battery identified as (3) and Buena Vista Barracks (4), 1870.

Buena vista Barracks, circa 1913.

In 1896, the battery was again rebuilt. It now mounted two 12-pounder 12 cwt QF Mark I guns on QF Mark I mountings. These guns were to protect the southern entrance to the harbour and engage any enemy gunboats entering the bay from the Straits. The guns were dismounted in 1908 and the RML battery remained unarmed until 1940 when it was again rearmed, this time with a 4-inch naval gun.

From 1917 onwards, the battery’s role evolved to that of an Anti-Aircraft position. Two adapted 6-pounder QF guns were installed at Buena Vista. They were probably located on the roof of the RML battery, which was unarmed.

Royal Welch Fusiliers group photo at Buena Vista Barracks stone block in the early 1930's.

Royal Welch Fusiliers on parade with its regimental Cashmere goat at Buena Vista.

A 40-mm Bofors was installed in the left-hand 12-pounder emplacement of the battery in 1941. That same year, a harbour floodlight was also installed. From 1944, the battery became a reserve site and had a mobile 40-mm Bofors equipped with a predictor. A ‘Z’ projector was also installed on the roof of the nearby magazine.

The associated barracks was constructed in the 1840’s following the recommendation of Major General John Thomas Jones. Other barracks also commissioned by him include the nearby Lathbury Barracks and the Defensible Barracks at Europa Point. In his report, Jones recommended that the southern part of the territory, including the Europa Flats all the way to Europa Point, should be more heavily fortified. Indeed, he felt that there was a risk the enemy would invade via the flats, which were not as naturally protected as other, steeper parts of the Rock. Following his report, several batteries, barracks, and other fortifications were constructed in what is now the South District.

During WWII, the barrack square was used as a reserve Heavy Anti-Aircraft artillery site, completed in 1942. A dummy 3.7-inch gun was also erected.

Dummy Anti Aircraft guns at Buena Vista Barracks in 1940.

In 1958, Buena Vista later became the HQ of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, and the regiment was to remain there until the early 1990’s when they moved up to Lathbury. During this time, Buena Vista Battery was maintained by Gibraltar Regiment and used for practice purposes. Amongst the guns used on, or near the site was a 6-pdr BL 7 cwt MkII A/T that had been removed from one of its deployment sites after WWII and re-located to Buena Vista. These guns had been declared obsolete in 1951 but this piece continued to be used as a practice gun for the artillery section of the Gibraltar Regiment until it was removed, first to Harding’s battery in the early 1970’s and later to Parson’s Lodge.

Gibraltar Defence Force intake 1949

6-pdr BL 7 cwt MkII A/T at Buena Vista Barracks.

The Ministry of Defence ceded the site to the Government of Gibraltar in 2011, with the barrack block converted to storage and commercial. The barrack block, parade ground and old MT depot has now been redeveloped for residential use.

Buena Vista Park residential complex.