Delimara Tower & Battery | |
---|---|
Torri u Batterija ta' Delimara | |
Part of the De Redin towers | |
Marsaxlokk, Malta | |
Coordinates | 35°49′13.5″N14°33′39.5″E / 35.820417°N 14.560972°E |
Type | Coastal watchtower Artillery battery |
Site history | |
Built | 1659 (tower) 1793 (battery) |
Built by | Order of Saint John |
Materials | Limestone |
Fate | Demolished |
Delimara Tower (Maltese : Torri ta' Delimara), originally known as Torre della Limara, [1] was a small watchtower on the Delimara Peninsula, in the limits of Marsaxlokk, Malta. It was built in 1659 as the tenth De Redin tower, and an artillery battery was later built nearby in 1793. [2] Both the tower and the battery have been demolished.
Delimara Tower was built in 1659 at the tip of Delimara Point. It followed the standard design of the De Redin towers, having a square plan with two floors and a turret on the roof. A feature unique to Delimara Tower was that it had machicolations. It also had a buttress at the base, implying that it had some structural weaknesses. A similar buttress still exists at Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower.
Each De Redin tower had two neighbouring towers in its line of sight, so that signals could be sent from one tower to another, in order to maintain a communication link. Delimara Tower had Xrobb l-Għaġin Tower in its line of sight to the northeast, and Bengħisa Tower to the southwest. A mortar battery was built near the tower in 1793. [3]
Both the tower and battery were demolished by the British to clear the line of fire of the nearby Fort Delimara. [4]
Fort Delimara is a polygonal fort in Marsaxlokk, Malta. It was built between 1876 and 1888 by the British as part of a chain of fortifications intended to protect Marsaxlokk Harbour. Today, the fort is still intact but is in need of restoration, and is in danger of collapse due to coastal erosion.
Fort San Lucian, also known as Saint Lucian Tower or Fort Rohan, is a large bastioned watchtower and polygonal fort in Marsaxlokk, Malta. The original tower was built by the Order of Saint John between 1610 and 1611, being the second of six Wignacourt towers.
Qawra Tower, also known as Qawra Point Tower or Fra Ben Tower, is a small watchtower in Qawra, limits of St. Paul's Bay, Malta. It was completed in 1638 as the fourth of the Lascaris towers. An artillery battery was built around the tower in 1715. Today, the tower and battery are a restaurant.
Fort Benghisa is a polygonal fort in Birżebbuġa, Malta. It was built between 1910 and 1912 by the British on high ground on the seaward face of Benghisa Point, the southern arm of Marsaxlokk Bay. It is the southernmost fortification in Malta.
This page list topics related to Malta.
Ħamrija Tower, originally known as Torre della Pietra Nigra and also known locally as Torri ta' Rsejjen, is a small watchtower in Qrendi, Malta. It was completed in 1659 as the twelfth of the De Redin towers. The tower was restored by Heritage Malta and it is now in good condition.
The De Redin Towers are a series of small coastal watchtowers built in Malta by the Order of Saint John between 1658 and 1659. Thirteen towers were built around the coast of mainland Malta to act as watchtowers. Eight of the towers still survive.
The Lascaris Towers are a series of mostly small coastal watchtowers built in Malta by the Order of Saint John between 1637 and 1652. The first seven towers were built around the coast of mainland Malta in 1637 and 1638. Between 1647 and 1652, a large tower was also built on mainland Malta, and two smaller ones were built on Gozo.
Wardija Tower, originally known as Torre della Guardia di Giorno and also known as Bubaqra Tower, is a small watchtower in the limits of Żurrieq, Malta. It was completed in June 1659 as the last of the thirteen De Redin towers.
Saint Julian's Tower, originally known as Torre di San Giuliano and also known as Sliema Tower, is a small watchtower in Sliema, Malta. It was completed in 1658 as the fifth of the 13 De Redin towers. An artillery battery was built around the tower in 1715. Today, the tower and the remains of the battery are a restaurant.
Bengħisa Tower, originally known as Torre di Benissa and also referred to as the Red Tower, was a small watchtower in Bengħisa, within the limits of Birżebbuġa, Malta. It was built in 1659 as the seventh of the De Redin towers, on or near the site of a medieval watch post. An entrenchment was built around the tower in 1761, and it was armed with 10 guns. The tower was demolished by the British to clear the line of fire of the nearby Fort Benghisa in 1915.
Żonqor Tower, originally known as Torre di Zoncol, was a small watchtower near Żonqor Point, within the limits of the seaside town of Marsaskala, Malta. It was built in 1659 as the eleventh of the De Redin towers, on or near the site of a medieval watch post. The tower commanded the entrance to Marsaskala Bay along with Saint Thomas Tower. It was demolished by the British military in 1915 to clear the line of fire of modern fortifications.
Xrobb l-Għaġin Tower, originally known as Torre di Siuarep, is a ruined watchtower in Xrobb l-Għaġin, limits of Marsaxlokk, Malta. It was built in 1659 as the eighth of the De Redin towers. An entrenchment with two redans was built around it in 1761. The tower is now largely destroyed since it was built of globigerina limestone which is prone to erosion. The remains of the tower's scarped base, as well as the general outline of the entrenchment, can still be seen.
Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower, originally known as Torre della Giddida and also called Mwejġel Tower, is a small watchtower near Żabbar, Malta. It was built in 1659 as the ninth of the thirteen De Redin towers. The tower suffered extensive damage in the 20th century, with parts of the structure being demolished, but it was restored in 2008 and 2009 and is now in good condition.
The fortifications of Malta consist of a number of walled cities, citadels, forts, towers, batteries, redoubts, entrenchments and pillboxes. The fortifications were built over hundreds of years, from around 1450 BC to the mid-20th century, and they are a result of the Maltese islands' strategic position and natural harbours, which have made them very desirable for various powers.
Wolseley Battery is an artillery battery in Delimara, Marsaxlokk, Malta. It was built by the British between 1897 and 1899, and is located close to Fort Tas-Silġ. Today, the battery still exists, but it is not accessible to the public.
Wilġa Battery, also known as Saint James Battery or Zondodari Battery, is a former artillery battery in Delimara, Marsaxlokk, Malta. It was built in 1714 by the Order of Saint John as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands. Today, the battery's gun platform is largely destroyed, but its blockhouse remains intact and has been restored.
Del Fango Redoubt, also known as De Vami Redoubt, was a redoubt in Marsaxlokk, Malta. Made of limestone, it was built in 1715–1716 by the Order of Saint John as part of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands. An entrenchment was originally located close to the redoubt.
Balbani Battery, also known as Bengħisa Battery or Saint Catherine's Battery, was an artillery battery in Birżebbuġa, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John on commands by Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca and was completed in 1721. The battery was named for Cristoforo Balbani, who partially financed its construction. It was one of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands.
Elminiech Battery, also known as Figuella Battery, San Raimondo Battery or Oitelboura Battery, 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.