Charles Lygon Somers Cocks - as he is sometimes also referred to - was born in 1821. He became an ensign of the 54th West Norfolk Regiment of Foot in 1836 - when he was fifteen - and eventually retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He seems to have been a soldier for most of his life but he is been better known for having commissioned Treverbyn Vean - his family house in Cornwall.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Lygon Somers Cocks
One of his many interests was that of photography and a large brown leather album with gold tooling on the front and spine still exists. It contains his large collection of prints taken around Britain and Europe - including several of Gibraltar.
It is hard to tell whether he was ever stationed on the Rock or whether the photographs were taken while he was passing through on his way to other postings. Whatever the case, the titles given to many of the photographs suggest that he knew the place well. Although the quality of some of the photos is rather poor, the fact that they are dated c1866 when photography was in its infancy, give them considerable historical value.
"Catalan Bay"
"North Front"
"The South Front "- actually the path to Governor's Cottage in the south
"West Front" - Commercial Harbour on the left
"Wellington Front"
"King's Bastion"
"New Mole"
Unknown road- presumably in the southern area
Unknown road- presumably in the southern area
The Rock from across the Bay
"Southport Ditch" - near Ragged Staff
The Rock from the Neutral Ground
The Rock from Spain
"The M(i)ll House"
"The Moorish Castle"
"The ADC's House"
Part of the town
"Thomas Cochrane's Garden - South Front"
Almost certainly the house at Glen Rocky of Sir James Cochrane, Chief Justice of Gibraltar from 1841 to 1847. The building on top is Buenavista Barracks
Unknown but possibly the Convent
Ragged Staff
The Protestant Cathedral
Dragon Tree - possibly in the Alameda Gardens
"North Front" - showing the Galleries
"The Brigadier's House"
"Signora de la Peñas" - unknown