Garrison Library
Garrison Library
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Linda R
Nottingham, UK751 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
The Garrison Library is situated opposite the Elliot Hotel and there is no charge to enter. If you go on a Friday at 11am there is a free guided tour of the library and you are able to go upstairs. There are thousands of books behind glass doors, both reading and reference books, which do not leave the library at all. Upstairs there is a lecture hall/ball room. Our guide on our visit explained in the olden days the library was for serving officers only, and when they held a ball the ladies were not allowed to enter through the front door, they had to use the spiral staircase in the garden to enter the ballroom. The garden is lovely, its peaceful ad tranquil, the library is well worth a visit. Occasionally, as on our visit local artist are allowed to exhibit their work.Even though we are now in a digital world, the Gibraltar Chronicle is printed everyday and a copy is stored in the library. The staff are very welcoming and will answer any questions you have.
Written July 22, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DavidDee
42 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
Very much open to the public. If there are more friendly, helpful, knowledgeable 'staff' in any establishment in Gibraltar, I have not discovered them. The history of this magnificent memorial to British military history in Gibraltar is astonishing. Its founding and funding involving princes and prime ministers and private individual military officers. Beautiful gardens - front and rear - that all are permitted to visit. Guided tours take place on most Fridays at 1050 hours. Simply unable to express adequately the superb collections of books - many very, very old. Closed at week-ends. There will be some lovely visitors to Gibraltar who will not find this place in the least interesting, but there will be many who will love having visited. Twenty five yards from the Elliott Callaghan Hotel. Never been asked for a donation, but I have made donations via the Garrison Library Trust. Great place - I absolutely love it.
Written March 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter S
Canberra, Australia346 contributions
Nov 2019
The Garrison Library is an amazing and delightful survival in an atmospheric colonial building beautifully preserved and presented. But wait! There's more - it is also a perfectly functional and functioning research library, full of treasures, which are open to consult and visitors are assisted by the friendly and helpful staff. I was able to spend a productive and enjoyable several hours there and it was the highlight of my two days in Gibraltar. Visit, even if only to admire one of the remarkable relics of Britain's colonial past.
Written November 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stan L
London, UK112 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
I had several visits to the Garrison Library in April, with a tour and an exhibition included.
Located in the town centre on Town Range opposite the Elliott Hotel, and next to the Gibraltar Chronicle Printing Office, it is open to the public at certain times. Just call into the office and enquire and they will advise the best time to go when a guide is available to give the history and how it links with the Chronicle etc.
Lead by Dr. Jennifer Ballantine Pereira, the staff of the Library are very friendly and helpful, especially if you have the need do any research.
As a Library it has some very rare collections, including one of the most complete collections of the Punch magazine and many other publications going back over several centuries.
Located in the town centre on Town Range opposite the Elliott Hotel, and next to the Gibraltar Chronicle Printing Office, it is open to the public at certain times. Just call into the office and enquire and they will advise the best time to go when a guide is available to give the history and how it links with the Chronicle etc.
Lead by Dr. Jennifer Ballantine Pereira, the staff of the Library are very friendly and helpful, especially if you have the need do any research.
As a Library it has some very rare collections, including one of the most complete collections of the Punch magazine and many other publications going back over several centuries.
Written June 7, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christina C
London516 contributions
Sep 2014 • Couples
I revisited this incredible library last summer for the first time since 1964 when I used to live in Gibraltar, I was really hoping it would be open to the public as years ago it belonged to the MoD and I used to go with my Mother who had officer status within the forces. As I walked through the beautifully maintained rooms reliving my memories I was delighted to see that the furniture, books, fixtures and fittings were just as I remembered them, including the fireplace with the curved brass fender that fascinated me as a child. I got talking to the lovely gentleman there who was so helpful, interesting and knowledgeable about the building it made for a wonderful afternoon as we looked at the maps and books and walked round the gardens that seemed so enormous to me back then, sadly some of the trees have gone, one of the original big trees in the back garden got hit by lightening and the palm trees have been attacked by weevils which nothing seems to eliminate, unfortunately. I really urge everyone who is interested in history to visit this intriguing building. I wish they reinstated the lovely afternoon teas the library used to have back in the day, a pot of Lipton's tea and a plate of cinnamon toast whilst sitting in a Lloyd loom chair in the gardens! Happy days.
Written February 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rozzersnark
Portsmouth, Hampshire9 contributions
Jun 2012 • Couples
Recently taken over by the Gibraltar Government from the MOD. A vast record of the documentary history of Gibraltar. The Staff were very willing and helpful and I will return for more research
Written June 16, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nnmercman
Camberley, UK14,276 contributions
Feb 2018 • Solo
You would think the Library was easy to find - simply stroll down Library Street off Main Street but it wasn’t to be as initially I just couldn’t locate it. In the end I asked a security guard outside one of the Government Offices and it would appear I’d walked past the Library a couple of times - it’s set back and up a short hill opposite front entrance of Elliot Hotel and car park (see my pics). The front garden has a couple of nice trees but be careful on surrounding path as it can be slippery (there’s also a rear garden). Once inside the entrance you turn right to ground floor area - staircase to uppper floor(s) was roped off when I visited. Some interesting book titles to look at and I was surprised to find collections of much more modern works as well. However, I doubt any of the old tomes have seen the light of day for many a year and some looked in a sad state. Interesting pictures and paintings dotted around. Although the grandeur’s become somewhat faded you can perhaps imagine what it must have been like not that many years ago. Worth half an hour of your time and there’s no entry charge.
Written February 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruce180852
Cornwall, UK1,156 contributions
Oct 2016 • Solo
The garrison library is tucked up off main st, directly opposite the Elliot Hotel.
It stands in a beautiful colonial square, tree lined, and like stepping into a movie set, all the buildings in the square date back to the 1800s and more, all have been refurbished and are now government offices, but you can put your head inside all of them, no one minds.
There's also an early church and the Gibraltar chronicle, its Gibraltars original newspaper and still going today.
The garrison library sits all on its own inside a walled garden, a beautiful place to sit on a hot day under the trees, admission is free, it's now part of the university of Gibraltar, inside its like being in the 1800s, beautiful big rooms, tall ceilings, with some of the best bookcases and pictures anywhere, and a rear courtyard to sit and be quiet, I've been a few times now, and it's not hard to imagine the officers of the garrison sitting here reading or relaxing with a Gin and tonic.
It's well worth taking a few minutes to wander about here, out of the hustle and bustle of Main Street.
It stands in a beautiful colonial square, tree lined, and like stepping into a movie set, all the buildings in the square date back to the 1800s and more, all have been refurbished and are now government offices, but you can put your head inside all of them, no one minds.
There's also an early church and the Gibraltar chronicle, its Gibraltars original newspaper and still going today.
The garrison library sits all on its own inside a walled garden, a beautiful place to sit on a hot day under the trees, admission is free, it's now part of the university of Gibraltar, inside its like being in the 1800s, beautiful big rooms, tall ceilings, with some of the best bookcases and pictures anywhere, and a rear courtyard to sit and be quiet, I've been a few times now, and it's not hard to imagine the officers of the garrison sitting here reading or relaxing with a Gin and tonic.
It's well worth taking a few minutes to wander about here, out of the hustle and bustle of Main Street.
Written October 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin N
12 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
Probably not the best known tourist attraction in Gibraltar but the Garrison Library, once the domain of the military is now a public facility and is open to visitors. A must if you want to research the history of Gib.
Written June 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph R
Cumbria, UK851 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
Founded in 1793 shortly after the Great Siege of Gibraltar by Captain (later Colonel) Drinkwater, the chronicler of that siege, Gibraltar's Garrison Library has lots of things to see and discover. Its foundation was the result of Captain Drinkwater's desire to have a public library in Gibraltar where Army officers and others could read newspapers and other material - basically as a place of training and recreation. While it has moved with the times and is now run by the Gibraltar Government, its long and proud heritage has been retained for everyone to enjoy.
Once a week, at 11.00 on Friday mornings, there is a free guided tour. This is by far and away the best time to visit this historic building and its beautiful gardens. During the guided tour the volunteer or member of staff will have the time to answer any questions about the library or about Gibraltar generally. What an incredible opportunity it is to talk to such a committed and knowledgeable team of people!
The people in the group taking this tour included ex-Army personnel who had served in Gibraltar, researchers and others with a general interest in family and local history. The guided tour of the library clearly brought back many happy memories for some of the tour party.
At the time of this visit one initiative promoted by the Garrison Library was an exhibition using material from its extensive archives about the so-called 'Great War' of 1914 - 1918. For the most part this was a "100 year look back" at the war drawing on newspaper and magazine articles from (March to October 1915). Images, such as cartoons or photographs, played an important part in conveying the news stories of this 'Great War'. Many of the images have been converted to digital form and can be seen in the exhibition as a silent slide show.
Also, for each day that passes, a page from the 'Gibraltar Chronicle' from exactly 100 years earlier is on display in a cabinet. Hence, the modern day visitor to the exhibition can read the news in exactly the same way that the reader in wartime Gibraltar would have done a century earlier.
Another initiative that was mentioned during this visit was the ongoing Oral History project of Gibraltar in the 20th Century. The target date for completion is 2017. Once completed, the audio resource material is going to be available on an open access website for current and future generations of Gibraltar and a worldwide community. So, Gibraltar's Garrison Library uses its rich resources of the past and is moving forward recording present and recent memories by using modern techniques and resources for future generations. Unlike the nearby Gibraltar Museum, visitors to Gibraltar's Garrison Library are permitted to take photographs inside the building.
To conclude, who would find it of interest to visit Gibraltar's Garrison Library? The simple answer is almost everyone interested in museums or any branch of history would find something to interest them. I would expect day visitors to Gibraltar, such as from a cruise ship, may prefer to visit somewhere else in the short time they have available in the resort. Yet, even for day visitors, if it is raining, this could be an option worthy of consideration to pass an hour or two on a Friday morning.
There is a rich resource of military, social, local and world history at this one place. It is a fascinating place to learn more about Gibraltar throughout the years including many features that have long disappeared, such as the Calpe Hunt and the horse racing that used to take place where the modern-day airport is now situated. It is a fascinating treasure trove of Gibraltar's past, present and future.
Once a week, at 11.00 on Friday mornings, there is a free guided tour. This is by far and away the best time to visit this historic building and its beautiful gardens. During the guided tour the volunteer or member of staff will have the time to answer any questions about the library or about Gibraltar generally. What an incredible opportunity it is to talk to such a committed and knowledgeable team of people!
The people in the group taking this tour included ex-Army personnel who had served in Gibraltar, researchers and others with a general interest in family and local history. The guided tour of the library clearly brought back many happy memories for some of the tour party.
At the time of this visit one initiative promoted by the Garrison Library was an exhibition using material from its extensive archives about the so-called 'Great War' of 1914 - 1918. For the most part this was a "100 year look back" at the war drawing on newspaper and magazine articles from (March to October 1915). Images, such as cartoons or photographs, played an important part in conveying the news stories of this 'Great War'. Many of the images have been converted to digital form and can be seen in the exhibition as a silent slide show.
Also, for each day that passes, a page from the 'Gibraltar Chronicle' from exactly 100 years earlier is on display in a cabinet. Hence, the modern day visitor to the exhibition can read the news in exactly the same way that the reader in wartime Gibraltar would have done a century earlier.
Another initiative that was mentioned during this visit was the ongoing Oral History project of Gibraltar in the 20th Century. The target date for completion is 2017. Once completed, the audio resource material is going to be available on an open access website for current and future generations of Gibraltar and a worldwide community. So, Gibraltar's Garrison Library uses its rich resources of the past and is moving forward recording present and recent memories by using modern techniques and resources for future generations. Unlike the nearby Gibraltar Museum, visitors to Gibraltar's Garrison Library are permitted to take photographs inside the building.
To conclude, who would find it of interest to visit Gibraltar's Garrison Library? The simple answer is almost everyone interested in museums or any branch of history would find something to interest them. I would expect day visitors to Gibraltar, such as from a cruise ship, may prefer to visit somewhere else in the short time they have available in the resort. Yet, even for day visitors, if it is raining, this could be an option worthy of consideration to pass an hour or two on a Friday morning.
There is a rich resource of military, social, local and world history at this one place. It is a fascinating place to learn more about Gibraltar throughout the years including many features that have long disappeared, such as the Calpe Hunt and the horse racing that used to take place where the modern-day airport is now situated. It is a fascinating treasure trove of Gibraltar's past, present and future.
Written May 31, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is parking available at the Library, my daughter is getting married there on Thursday 11th January?
Written January 7, 2018
Hi, there is limited parking/street parking. There is a hotel opposite the garrison library they may allow you to park your car there.
Written January 7, 2018
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