City Under Siege exhibition being restored and upgraded

Work has begun to restore part of the City Under Siege exhibition in the Upper Rock.

The exhibition is housed within an 18^th century building complex predating the Great Siege of Gibraltar.

The Government says the site holds “exceptional military and cultural importance” – highlighting the graffiti by soldiers, with the earliest example dating back to 1726.

However, it says the building has deteriorated over time – and that Wright Tech has therefore contracted a specialist restoration team to safeguard it.

It adds the interpretation features in the exhibition will be upgraded, drawing on original diaries from officers and their wives to offer visitors a “rare, first-hand insight into daily life during one of Gibraltar’s defining historical events”.

The Government adds the redevelopment will introduce “never-before-told narratives, a new display of artefacts, and the creation of a tranquil garden space”. There are also future plans for an archaeological dig in partnership with the Gibraltar National Museum.

Number Six says restoration works are expected to take 8-10 weeks, during which time the site will be temporarily closed.

Director of Wright Tech, Christian Wright, said the exhibition will show “the human side of a brutal conflict” – and allow us to “see the soldiers and their families not just as names in history, but as people with their own fears and hopes”.

Minister for Heritage, John Cortes, said when the Government issued the call for expressions of interest for site improvements, this was one of the key sites it wanted improved. He said “the work envisaged, to the standard of the much acclaimed World War II tunnels, will bring it back to life for all to enjoy”.