Trafalgar Cemetery, Upper Rock Nature Reserve Travel Guide

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Explore Gibraltar's Trafalgar Cemetery: a historic site with stories of naval battles, epidemics, and enduring remembrance.

Trafalgar Cemetery in Gibraltar, formerly Southport Ditch Cemetery, holds a rich history dating back to 1798. Despite its name, only two casualties from the Battle of Trafalgar are buried here. The cemetery serves as the final resting place for victims of other naval battles and yellow fever epidemics.

A brief summary to Trafalgar Cemetery

4JMW+WW9, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA, GI

Monday 9 am-5 pm
Tuesday 9 am-5 pm
Wednesday 9 am-5 pm
Thursday 9 am-5 pm
Friday 9 am-5 pm
Saturday 9 am-5 pm
Sunday 9 am-5 pm

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Trafalgar Cemetery.

Visit on the Sunday closest to October 21st for the annual Trafalgar Day commemorative ceremony.
Look for the graves of Lieutenant William Forster and Lieutenant Thomas Norman, the two Battle of Trafalgar casualties buried here.
Take time to appreciate the diverse tree species, including the Sweet Chestnut, and other flora within the cemetery.

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Explore Trafalgar Cemetery on the Map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots near Trafalgar Cemetery, mapped for you.

Getting There

Walking

From Casemates Square, walk south along Main Street. Continue through the Southport Gates. The cemetery is located a short distance to the south, on Trafalgar Road. The walk is approximately 15 minutes.
Public Transport

From the city center, take bus routes 2, 3, 4 or 10. Alight at the Trafalgar Cemetery - Boyd St stop. The cemetery entrance is a short walk from the bus stop. A single bus fare is approximately £1.50.

Discover more about Trafalgar Cemetery

Trafalgar Cemetery, originally known as Southport Ditch Cemetery, was consecrated in 1798, seven years before the famed Battle of Trafalgar. Despite its name, the cemetery is not primarily a memorial to that battle; only two of its victims, Lieutenant William Forster of HMS Colossus and Lieutenant Thomas Norman of HMS Mars, are buried here. Most of those killed at Trafalgar were buried at sea.The cemetery served as a burial ground between 1798 and 1814 for those who died in Gibraltar. Interments include casualties from other sea battles of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, such as the First Battle of Algeciras in 1801, and conflicts off Cádiz and Málaga in 1810 and 1812 respectively. Many graves also belong to victims of the yellow fever epidemics that struck Gibraltar between 1804 and 1814.In 1932, gravestones from St. Jago's Cemetery, were moved to the east wall of Trafalgar Cemetery. The oldest tombstone dates back to 1738. The cemetery was abandoned for many years but was restored in the 1980s. In 1992, a memorial to the Battle of Trafalgar was erected. Today, the cemetery is the site of an annual commemorative ceremony on Trafalgar Day. Visitors can explore the grounds with its labeled trees, including a Sweet Chestnut.