The People of Gibraltar

1870 - Prince Edward's Album - A Soldier on his Side

During the late 19th century Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and future King Edward VII bought himself a red Moroccan leather bound album that included 89 albumen photographs. They featured views of Canada, Stockholm, Spain and Gibraltar.

The album is dated 1870 but there is no indication as to who took the photographs - although I would guess that most were the work of either of two professional photographers, James Hollingworth Mann (see LINK) or Francis Frith. (see LINK) Nor do I know when the Prince actually got hold of the album. Was it a present perhaps from one of his hosts during his many travels abroad? Quién sabe. In any case here are the Gibraltar photographs with my comments.

The Rock across the Bay from the road to Algeciras

North Front military review on the race course ( c1855 )

North Front military review - detail

The group on the left are possibly members of the band. Surprisingly there are very few civilian spectators in view. The circular track with marker stones is probably part of the old race course

The Guard House ( c1860 )

The Guard House - detail

The Guard House was on the frontier with Spain. It lay to right and just out of the picture on the previous photograph. It is an enigmatic photo in that it is impossible to read the signs on the small hut on the right - nor identify its purpose