Rock cut seat

Ref: HLMP2/034

The Rock Cut seat at the top of Mediterranean Steps is one of a number of carefully cut seats found around the southern paths of the Rock. They are attributed to Captain William Douglas after whom Douglas Path and Douglas Cave are named.

Captain William Douglas served in the 11^th Regiment of Foot and promoted to Captain (probably through purchase as was customary at the time) on the 26^th April 1783.¹ The Regiment arrived in Gibraltar in November 1783 where it remained until the winter of 1792 before returning to England at the beginning of January 1793. Whilst in Gibraltar the Regiment was redeployed as Marines and took part in the ill-fated Siege of Toulon.

There, on the 30^th August, some 600 British and Spanish soldiers were ordered to assail an adverse Revolutionary French force of 800 men who had taken possession of the small village of Ollomilles. After a number of small skirmishes around the flanks, Captain Elphinstone ordered Captain Moncrief of the 11^Th Regiment to lead the attacking column, under cover of the stone enclosures to within 200 yards of the bridge; and as the shades of evening were gathering over the scene, the British soldiers rushed upon their numerous opponents, with an energy and determination which overpowered all opposition; the enemy’s formidable positions were forced in gallant style, and their routed troops fled, leaving the artillery and two stands of colours in possession of the victorious soldiers of the ELEVENTH and TWENTY-FIFTH Regiments and the Spaniards. This success was acquired at the expense of many valuable lives, and the loss of Captain Douglas of the ELEVENTH Regiment, a very brave and meritorious soldier, was much regretted.² Captain Douglas was the only British dead in that encounter, one sergeant and 6 privates were recorded as wounded.³

Captain Elphinstone would later state in his despatch:⁴

‘The column behaved with a degree of intrepidity worthy of imitation; but the credit of the day was chiefly derived from the great exertions and gallant behaviour of Captain Douglas, town-major, and it is with grief that I dad, he was mortally wounded, and is since dead.’

The cause of his death, as described in his obituary, as ‘a ball entering his breast, that was extracted at the shoulder blade.’⁵

View of the Town and harbour of Toulon, from the Gun Wharf by Thomas Mante (British Library).

Whilst serving in Gibraltar Captain Douglas had been charged with constructing a number of paths on Gibraltar’s south-western slopes and he appears to have left his mark by means of rock cut seats and poems inscribed on rock. The most significant of which is Mrs. Chetwynd’s Chair along Mediterranean Road. Most of these paths appear to have been cut in 1789, and this date can be found inscribed upon rock on a number of paths. According to an article in a contemporary edition of the Gentleman’s Magazine, Major Douglas 'had an elegant taste for poetry, which the verses he has written upon several occurrences at Gibraltar are sufficient evidence.’ Among the best of them are some complementary lines on the Hon. Mrs Chetwynd, and also on Prince Edward’s Chair, ‘which is placed upon the Levant Road, lately excavated out of the Rock of Gibraltar under his direction.’⁶

It is not clear whether the rock cut seat near the top of Mediterranean Steps is Prince Edward’s Chair referred to in the Gentleman’s Magazine. No lines of poetry have been found near this seat.

Despite being known for his taste for poetry it does not appear he ever published his works. The few lines inscribed above Mrs. Chetwynd’s Chair is all that is left of his literary works.