What is the 100 Ton Gun at Napier of Magdala Battery?

Question

Accepted Answer

The 100 Ton Gun is a Victorian Armstrong rifled muzzle-loading gun at Napier of Magdala Battery near Rosia Bay, one of only two such guns surviving in the world (the other is at Fort Rinella in Malta). It was built to defend the harbour, became obsolete without firing a shot in anger, and the battery now has a small interpretation centre for visitors.
The battery sits on Rosia Road above Rosia Bay, which was Gibraltar's only natural harbour and the approach to the old Royal Naval dockyard. It was built between 1878 and 1884 on the site of earlier Rosia batteries and named after Lord Napier of Magdala, Governor of Gibraltar at the time.
The gun:
It is one of the 17.72-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns made by Sir W G Armstrong and Company in Newcastle upon Tyne, nicknamed the Rockbuster. Two were sent to Gibraltar and two to Malta, and only one survives in each place.
It actually weighs about 102 tonnes.
It was loaded with steam-powered hydraulic rammers around 45 feet long, and two loading chambers allowed it to fire roughly one round every four minutes.
The gun now in place originally armed Victoria Battery. It was moved to Napier of Magdala after the original gun there split during firing practice.
New propellants soon made it obsolete, and it never fired a shot in anger. It was last fired in 2002 with a small signalling charge to mark a Gibraltar and Malta heritage conference.
Anti-aircraft guns were placed at the battery during the Second World War.
Visiting:
An interpretation centre opened at the battery in October 1994, with displays explaining the gun and its operation.
The gun is included on several Rock tours, and Gibraltar's Government lists an accessible public toilet at the 100 Ton Gun open 09:00 to 18:00 every day.
The nearest bus stop is Rosia Plaza, and the site combines well with Parson's Lodge and the Rosia Bay area.

What is the 100 Ton Gun at Napier of Magdala Battery?

Short answer

Detailed answer

The gun

Visiting