Past and Present: Catalan Bay

Past and Present: Catalan Bay

by KARIM SCHEMBRI
When looking at the eastern side of our rock it is notable that Catalan bay has been an integral role to Gibraltar ever since the first Genoese Fisherman came to our shore all those years back.

Despite the origin of Catalan Bay name it is actually documented that a couple co-theories exist. Evidence projects that the bay is named after a group of 350 Catalan servicemen believed to have settled there after having assisted the Anglo-Dutch forces which who helped capture Gibraltar during the War of Spanish Succession on 4 August 1704. Evidence supports that the theory that Catalans settled in Catalan bay giving rise to the etymological definition.
HISTORY
When having a look at the definition of ‘La Caleta’ it is noted that it means a ‘small bay or cove’. The Spanish name of the La Caleta dates back to the fishing villages of La Atunara across the border in La Linea. Both are mentioned in the Royal Dispatch, which dates to the 6 of March 1634 and came under the jurisdiction of ‘Tercio del Mar de Marbella y Estepona’ in the Kingdom of Granada. Once the British took over the English name of Catalan Bay appeared between the third siege of Gibraltar which took place in the mid 18th century. Before that it was probably named ‘Catalan Battery’, ‘Catalan Beach’ or "Playa de los Catalanes".

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28-06-21 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR