The famous Eliott Memorial, which shares the same name as our accommodation in Gibraltar, can be found among the greenery of the gardens. Commissioned by General Don in 18515, the statue was built in memory of George Augustus Eliott and there’s an interesting history behind it.
The Alameda Gardens were established in 1816 by Lieutenant-Governor Sir George Don, who was the first commander in Gibraltar since 1704 to dedicate significant resources to public well-being, including the establishment of these gardens. The gardens were funded by voluntary contributions, including some from the Amateur Theatre, and monies raised via a series of public lotteries. The Alameda was laid out with numerous interconnecting paths and terraced beds, using mainly the local Jurassic limestone rock. The original layout remains largely intact and a series of guns and commemorative busts attest to both the gardens’ age and Gibraltar’s important military history. It is for this reason that several of the monuments within the Alameda are listed under the Gibraltar Heritage Trust Act.
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