Saint Mary's Battery (Marsalforn)

Contents

Saint Mary's Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Santa Marija), also known as Qolla s-Safra Battery (Maltese: Batterija tal-Qolla s-Safra)[1] or Gironda Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Gironda),[2] was an artillery battery in Marsalforn, limits of Żebbuġ, Gozo, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1715 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands.[3]

Life

The battery formed part of a chain of fortifications built to defend Marsalforn and nearby bays from Ottoman or Barbary attacks. Although the area was fortified by a number of towers, batteries, redoubts and entrenchments, all of these were destroyed except for Qolla l-Bajda Battery between Qbajjar and Xwejni Bays.[4]

The battery consisted of a semi-circular gun platform ringed by a parapet, and two blockhouses joined by a wall. It was demolished and no remains can be seen.

References

  1. 1.de Boisgelin, Louis (1805). Ancient and Modern Malta: Containing a Full and Accurate Account of the Present State of the Islands of Malta and Goza, the History of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, Also a Narrative of the Events which Attended the Capture of These Islands by the French, and Their Conquest by the English: and an Appendix, Containing Authentic State Papers and Other Documents - Volume II. London: Richard Phillips. p. 192.
  2. 2.Farrugia Randon, Stanley (2015). Heritage Saved – Din l-Art Ħelwa – 1965–2015. Luqa: Miller Distributors Ltd. p. 119. ISBN 9789995752132.
  3. 3.Zammit, Vincent (1984). "The Order's 18th Century Fortifications". Civilization. 1. Ħamrun: PEG Ltd: 170.
  4. 4.Bezzina, Joseph. "Marsalforn Culture & History". Żebbuġ Local Council. Retrieved 28 June 2015.