The People of Gibraltar

2018 - Hawkers, Vendors and Menders - Gibraltar - Part 3

Water Carriers

My family home in Main Street was probably built in the 19^th century. It was not very far from the centre of town and was both large and comfortable . . . . but even as late as the 1950s it did not have any running water. In fact by the time it was demolished a few years later it still wouldn’t have had any.

This state of affairs was by no means unique. My guess is that the majority of the families who returned home after World War II also had to cope with the problem that their houses didn’t have any running water either. The solution was one that had already been in use for centuries - possibly even from the days when Gibraltar was Spanish.

A more well-known name for Auction Square in the early 19^th century was the Esplanade - The fellow with the donkey in the middle foreground is a water carrier (1825 - F. Benucci)

Water was stored in central a location which in my days and for my family house was in the north eastern corner Governor’s Parade.

Water carrier and his donkey on the right hand side of Library Ramp (1833 - Frederick Leeds Edridge)

A water carrier at the cross road between Engineer Lane on the left and Library Ramp on the right , both giving out to Gunner’s Parade (1833 - Frederick Leeds Edridge)

Fresh water fountain - Gunner’s Parade was another name for Governor’s Parade - Library Ramp - known locally as "el Ballali" is out of sight on the right hand corner (Early 20^th century postcard)

Carrier riding towards the water fountain on Gunner's Parade - St Andrews Presbyterian Church stands on the northern side of the Parade (1924 - Album compiled by a French Tourist)