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Douglas Cave, Gibraltar
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Douglas Cave is at the bottom of Douglas Path which
runs north-south along the top ridge of the Rock of Gibraltar within the
Upper Rock Nature Reserve.
The cave is, unusually, inside a
brick building and contains a single stone seat and the remains of a
simple plaque.
The dates 1789 and 1897 appear on a stone nearby;
1789 is the start of The Great Siege.
Douglas lookout is nearby along the Douglas Path.
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 11th Regiment of Foot and promoted to Captain (probably through
purchase as was customary at the time) on the 26th April 1783(3). 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
30th 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(2) ordered Captain
George Moncrief of the 11th 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. Captain Douglas was the
only British dead in that encounter, one sergeant and 6 privates were
recorded as wounded.
Captain Elphinstone would later state in
his despatch:
‘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 (sic), 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.’
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.’
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.
Douglas Cave is at the bottom of Douglas Path
which runs north-south along the top ridge of the Rock of Gibraltar. The
cave is not natural but appears to have been entirely man-made, as in
the case of the grotto enclosing Mrs. Chetwynd’s Chair. The brick
building leading to the cave is of much later construction. The reason
for this cave is unclear, but it may have been built, as in the case of
the cave containing Mrs. Chetwynd’s Chair primarily for the comfort of
Mrs. Chetwynd, whose husband Captain Chetwynd Staplyton with the couple
forming a close personal friendship with Captain Douglas whilst the two
Officers were involved in the construction of these paths. Mrs Chetwynd,
heavily pregnant at this time with her second child appears to have
accompanied her husband whilst these works were being carried out and
these shelters and seats were most probably built for her personal
comfort.
The symbol or plaque above the seat inside Douglas Cave,
however, remains ambiguous. It shows a crown sustaining a medallion or
jewel of sorts. The symbol has also been interpreted as a spoon. Below
the symbol lies the rock cut seat which appears to look more like a bed
with two round stone pillows at each end rather than a simple seat. Mrs.
Chetwynd’s second child, Henry Richard Chetwynd-Stapylton was born in
1789 so the seat/bed was probably cut either to allow Mrs. Chetwynd to
rest whilst heavily pregnant with child, or for her comfort and
convenience just after the child had been born. There would have been no
military reason to have carved this seat or cave shelter at this
location.
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 work.
Notes:
1. Possible references to the family:
• The Scot
Magazine, 1 December 1814. At Holmhill, Thomas Whyte, Esq, Jun. of
Newmaine, to Miss Emily, youngest daughter of the late William Douglas
Esq, late captain in the 11th Regiment of Foot.
• The Scot Magazine,
1 December 1820, At Holmhill, Dumfries-shire, Adam Mosman, Esq. of
Liverpool to Harriet,
eldest daughter of the late Captain William
Douglas, 11th Regiment of Foot.
2.
Captain Hon. George Elphinstone of the Robust 74
3.
He had been promoted lieutenant in 1768
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