The Northern Defences consist of the King’s, Queen’s, and Princess Lines, a series of fortified positions carved into the north face of the Rock. Dating back to the Moors in the 12th century, they were modified by the British during the late 1700s, particularly around the Great Siege (1779–1783), and continued to be updated for roughly the next 200 years.
During both World Wars, the Northern Defences saw use with the addition of searchlight positions, gun emplacements, and barracks, making use of both new excavations and older galleries. Many of the subterranean features remain structurally intact, though in varying states of preservation.
There has recently been renewed interest in the Northern Defences, and a project to restore them and make them more accessible to the public is underway.
