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Elminiech Battery

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Elminiech Battery
Batterija t'Elminiech
Birżebbuġa, Malta
Site information
Type Artillery battery
Location
Coordinates 35°49′4.4″N 14°31′57.8″E / 35.817889°N 14.532722°E
Site history
Built 1715–1716
Built by Order of Saint John
Materials Limestone
Fate Demolished

Elminiech Battery (Maltese: Batterija t'Elminiech, corrupted into Batterija ta' Mnieħ), also known as Figuella Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Figuella), San Raimondo Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' San Raimond)[1] or Oitelboura Battery,[2] was an artillery battery in Birżebbuġa, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1715–16 as part of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands.[3]

Built mainly of limestone, Elminiech Battery was part of a chain of fortifications that defended Marsaxlokk Bay, which also included six other batteries, the large Saint Lucian Tower, two smaller De Redin towers, four redoubts and three entrenchments.[4] The nearest fortifications to Elminiech Battery were the Birżebbuġa Entrenchments to the northwest and Fresnoy Redoubt to the east. Construction of the battery cost 1,451 scudi.[5]

The battery was demolished, and its site is now occupied by part of the Malta Freeport.[6]

References

  1. Back to citation "Birżebbuġa". duluri.wordpress.com (in Maltese). 13 April 2011. Archived from the original on 14 December 2015.
  2. Back to citation Farrugia Randon, Stanley (2015). Heritage Saved – Din l-Art Ħelwa – 1965–2015. Luqa: Miller Distributors Ltd. p. 119. ISBN 9789995752132.
  3. Back to citation Zammit, Vincent (1984). "The Order's 18th Century Fortifications". Civilization. 1. Ħamrun: PEG Ltd: 170.
  4. Back to citation "Vendôme Tower" (PDF). Mare Nostrum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  5. Back to citation Spiteri, Stephen C. (18 October 2010). "St. Thomas Tower and Battery". MilitaryArchitecture.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  6. Back to citation "About Birzebbuga". birzebbuga.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2015.