Battery No. 1 near the Castle of San Joaquín

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Memory · Subcategory: Sites of memory · Year: 1586-1762

This battery, along with the nearby No. 2, are the heirs of those old installations established in 1586 at the initiative of Governor Juan Núñez de la Fuente, in the surroundings of La Cuesta, with the clear objective of defending the island's main city, La Laguna, in case of a possible invasion inland, once the defensive lines of the port of Santa Cruz were broken.

Abandoned at the time, these small military constructions were resumed in 1762 when the Island Council approved a war prevention plan against possible external threats. 

The so-called Battery No. 1 was located at an altitude of 315 metres above sea level, about 5 kilometres from the coastline. Access to the installation was via an exclusive path that started from the old road to Candelaria.

The complex had stone parapets enclosing a large semicircular elongated platform over the Ofra ravine, which dominated in height the road access to La Laguna. It was armed with two iron pieces.

The installation was completed with a small lodging that served as a guardhouse of almost 25 square metres. The building was made of masonry with two windows and a door, all covered by a sloping tiled roof. Nine men could be accommodated here.

Surrounded by prickly pears, in 1924 Battery No. 1 was declared inadequate for the Army's needs. Finally, in 1949 it was sold to a private individual.

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