Dwejra Tower

Last updated
Dwejra Tower
Torri tad-Dwejra
Part of the Lascaris towers
Dwejra, San Lawrenz, Gozo, Malta
Vigie maltaise.jpg
Dwejra Tower
Coordinates 36°2′58.1″N14°11′31.4″E / 36.049472°N 14.192056°E / 36.049472; 14.192056
Type Coastal watchtower
Site information
Owner Government of Malta
Controlled by Din l-Art Ħelwa
Open to
the public
Yes
ConditionIntact
Site history
Built1652
Built by Order of Saint John
In use1652–1873
1914–1940s
Materials Limestone
Battles/wars World War II

Dwejra Tower (Maltese : Torri tad-Dwejra) [1] is a small watchtower in Dwejra Bay, San Lawrenz, which is on the island of Gozo in Malta. It was completed in 1652, and is part of the Lascaris towers. Today, it is in good condition and is open to the public.

Contents

It is one of four surviving coastal watchtowers in Gozo, with the others being Xlendi Tower, Mġarr ix-Xini Tower and Isopu Tower.

History

The Dwejra Tower was built in 1652 during the magistracy of Grand Master Giovanni Paolo Lascaris, and was funded by the University of Gozo. It is one of the Lascaris towers, and the intention behind its construction was for it to act as a watchtower and guard the surrounding areas from corsair landings. This tower, just like the other towers, could communicate to nearby defence fortifications through fire and smoke, at night and day respectively. The expenses for running the tower were covered by producing salt from the salt pans near it. It was equipped with three 6-pounder guns in the eighteenth century. In 1744, Grand Master Pinto made going to the Fungus Rock illegal because a fungus which grew there was believed to have medicinal powers, and Dwejra Tower was used as a lookout to prevent anyone climbing on the islet. [2]

The tower was manned by the Royal Malta Fencible Artillery between 1839 and 1873. It was then abandoned until 1914, during the time of the First World War, when the King's Own Malta Regiment and the Royal Malta Artillery were dispatched and it was manned by No. 3 Company with two (later four) 12-pounder guns. It was again used in World War II as an observation post, and on the 27th March 1943, Captain Frank Debono and Carmelo Zahra, who were stationed there, rescued an RAF pilot who had crash-landed his Mark Vb Spitfire on the cliffs overlooking the bay. [3]

The tower was leased to Gerald de Trafford in 1956. It was passed on loan to Din l-Art Ħelwa in a state of complete dilapidation.

Present day

Dwejra Tower with the Azure Window in the background Dwejra Tower Nov 2014.JPG
Dwejra Tower with the Azure Window in the background

The tower was restored by Din l-Art Ħelwa between 1997 and 1999. It is now in good condition and is open to the public at no charge. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Għajn Tuffieħa Tower</span>

Għajn Tuffieħa Tower is a small watchtower in Għajn Tuffieħa, limits of Mġarr, Malta. It was completed in 1637 as the second of the Lascaris towers. The tower is mostly intact although it is threatened by coastal erosion and it was damaged during a storm in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Għallis Tower</span>

Għallis Tower, originally known as Torre delle Saline, is a small watchtower in Salina, limits of Naxxar, Malta. It was completed in 1658 as the second of the De Redin towers. Today, the tower is in fair condition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wignacourt Tower</span>

Wignacourt Tower, also known as Saint Paul's Bay Tower, is a bastioned watchtower in St. Paul's Bay, Malta. It was the first of six Wignacourt towers to be built, and the first stone was laid on 10 February 1610. It replaced the role of Ta' Tabibu farmhouse which was previously known as Dejma Tower. An artillery battery was added a century later in 1715. Today the tower is a museum of fortifications around the Maltese Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Mark's Tower</span>

Saint Mark's Tower, originally known as Torre del Cortin and also known as Qalet Marku Tower, is a small watchtower in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, limits of Naxxar, Malta. It was completed in 1658 as the third of the De Redin towers. Today, the tower is in good condition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Agatha's Tower</span> Tower in Mellieha, Malta

Saint Agatha's Tower, also known as the Red Tower, Mellieħa Tower or Fort Saint Agatha, is a large bastioned watchtower in Mellieħa, Malta. It was built between 1647 and 1649, as the sixth of the Lascaris towers. The tower's design is completely different from the rest of the Lascaris towers, but it is similar to the earlier Wignacourt towers. St. Agatha's Tower was the last large bastioned tower to be built in Malta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De Redin towers</span> Series of coastal watchtowers built in the 1650s

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, eight of which 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 between 1637 and 1638. Between 1647 and 1652, a large tower was also built on mainland Malta, and two smaller ones were built on Gozo.

The Wignacourt towers are a series of large coastal watchtowers built in Malta by the Order of Saint John between 1610 and 1620. A total of six towers of this type were constructed, four of which survive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Din l-Art Ħelwa</span> Voluntary organisation to conserve Maltas cultural heritage and natural environment

Din l-Art Ħelwa is a non-governmental and non-profit, voluntary organisation founded in 1965 by Maltese Judge Maurice Caruana Curran to safeguard Malta's cultural heritage and natural environment. Since its foundation, Din l-Art Ħelwa has restored numerous cultural sites of historic and environmental importance. The organisation promotes the preservation and protection of historic buildings and monuments, the character of Malta's towns and villages, and places of natural beauty. They stimulate the enforcement of existing laws and the enactment of new ones for the protection of Malta's natural and built heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Mary's Tower</span> Tower on the island of Comino in Malta

Saint Mary's Tower, also known as the Comino Tower, is a large bastioned watchtower on the island of Comino in Malta. It was built in 1618, the fifth of six Wignacourt towers. The tower was used by the Armed Forces of Malta until 2002, and it is now in the hands of Din l-Art Ħelwa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xlendi Tower</span> Historic watchtower on Gozo, Malta

Xlendi Tower is a small watchtower near Xlendi Bay, within the limits of Munxar on the island of Gozo in Malta. The tower is one of the Lascaris towers and dates to 1650; it is currently undergoing restoration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lascaris Battery</span>

Lascaris Battery, also known as Fort Lascaris or Lascaris Bastion, is an artillery battery located on the east side of Valletta, Malta. The battery was built by the British in 1854, and it is connected to the earlier St. Peter & Paul Bastion of the Valletta Land Front. In World War II, the Lascaris War Rooms were dug close to the battery, and they served as Britain's secret headquarters for the defence of the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garzes Tower</span>

Garzes Tower, also known as Saint Martin's Tower, was a watchtower built in Mġarr, Gozo by the Order of Saint John in 1605. It was named after Martin Garzez, the Grand Master who financed its construction, even though it was eventually built after his death during the Magistry of Alof de Wignacourt. The tower was demolished in the 19th century, some remains were reused for the building of a bridge, and the site was developed with a hotel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sopu Tower</span>

Sopu Tower, also known as Isopu Tower, San Blas Tower or Torre Nuova, is a small watchtower situated on the cliff between San Blas and Daħlet Qorrot in Nadur, Gozo, Malta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sciuta Tower</span>

Sciuta Tower, also known as Sciutu Tower or Wied iż-Żurrieq Tower, is a small watchtower in Qrendi, Malta. It was completed in 1638 as the fifth of the Lascaris towers. The tower was restored by Din l-Art Ħelwa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mġarr ix-Xini Tower</span>

Mġarr ix-Xini Tower is the largest of the coastal watchtowers that the Knights of Malta erected on the island of Gozo. It watches over the entrance to the bay of Mġarr ix-Xini, limits of Għajnsielem, which lies on Gozo's south-west coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fortifications of Malta</span> Defensive military constructions of the Maltese archipelago

The fortifications of Malta consist of a number of walled cities, citadels, forts, towers, batteries, redoubts, entrenchments and pillboxes. The fortifications were built over thousands 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qolla l-Bajda Battery</span> Artillery Battery in Gozo, Malta

Qolla l-Bajda Battery is an artillery battery in Żebbuġ, Gozo, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John between 1715 and 1716 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the coasts of the Maltese Islands. It retained its original layout until the late 1970s, when it was converted into a discothèque and snack bar known as Rook and major alterations were made to the battery. The building is now abandoned and in a dilapidated state, being in the midst of a legal battle between the government and a private company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Anthony's Battery</span>

Saint Anthony's Battery is an artillery battery in Qala, Gozo, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John between 1731 and 1732 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the coasts of the Maltese Islands. It is one of only two surviving batteries on Gozo, the other one being Qolla l-Bajda Battery in Żebbuġ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aħrax Tower</span>

Aħrax Tower, originally known as Torre di Lacras, and also known as Armier Tower, Ta' Ħoslien Tower or the White Tower, is a small watchtower overlooking Armier Bay in the limits of Mellieħa, Malta. It was built in 1658 as the sixth of the De Redin towers. An artillery battery was built around it in 1715. Today, the tower and battery are intact. After receiving 3 years of restoration work the tower was reopened to the public on the 9th of June 2021.

References

  1. Graham, Jimmy (4 July 2015). "Dwerja Tower, Gozo". Le Crac. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  2. "Dwejra Tower". Visit Gozo. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  3. "Dwejra Tower". Malta Info Guide. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  4. "Dwejra Tower, Gozo". Din l-Art Ħelwa . Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  5. Farrugia Randon, Stanley (2015). Heritage Saved – Din l-Art Ħelwa – 1965–2015. Luqa: Miller Distributors Ltd. pp. 163–170. ISBN   9789995752132.

From RAF Operations Record Book RAF 1435 Squadron (National Archives, UK Ref AIR 27/2342)