Sliema Point Battery

Last updated
Sliema Point Battery
Il-Fortizza ta' Tas-Sliema
Sliema, Malta
Il-Fortizza, Sliema, isla de Malta, Malta, 2021-08-24, DD 09.jpg
Sliema Point Battery
Coordinates 35°54′50.9″N14°30′25.7″E / 35.914139°N 14.507139°E / 35.914139; 14.507139
Type Artillery battery
Site information
Controlled byFortizza Bar & Restaurant
Open to
the public
Yes (as a restaurant)
ConditionIntact
Website http://fortizzamalta.com/
Site history
Built1872-1876
Built by British Empire
Materials Limestone
Entrance Il-Fortizza, Sliema, isla de Malta, Malta, 2021-08-24, DD 10.jpg
Entrance

Sliema Point Battery (Maltese : Batterija tal-Ponta ta' Tas-Sliema), also known as Fort Sliema (Maltese : Il-Fortizza ta' Tas-Sliema), is an artillery battery in Sliema, Malta. It was built by the British between 1872 and 1876. The battery stands on the peninsula that separates Marsamxett Harbour from St. Julian's Bay. The battery was later used as a searchlight position, and it is now a restaurant known as Il-Fortizza (The Fortress).

Contents

The battery is located at Tower Road, one of Malta's most popular seaside promenades, which was named after the 17th century Saint Julian's Tower. Like Sliema Point Battery, this tower is now also used as a restaurant.

History

The construction of Sliema Point Battery started in 1872 by the British, as part of a program of improvements to Malta's fortifications recommended in Colonel Jervois' Report of 1866 titled "Memorandum with reference to the improvements to the defences of Malta and Gibraltar, rendered necessary by the introduction of Iron Plated Ships and powerful rifled guns". [1]

The battery, which was completed in 1876, has many Gothic Revival architectural features, such as the main gate. Construction cost a total of £12,000.

The battery was armed with two 10 inch and two 11 inch rifled muzzle-loading guns. [2] These guns were removed in 1905, and a searchlight tower was built on part of the battery. It was then used as a searchlight position to expose enemy ships approaching the Grand Harbour area. [3]

From around 1912, the Sliema Aquatic Sports Club began to meet near the battery. eventually, a water polo venue was built near the battery, and it is still used by the Sliema Aquatic Sports Club to this day. [4]

Present day

The fort is now used as a restaurant known as Fortizza Bar and Restaurant and commonly called Il-Fortizza. It came under new management in 2009. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Julian's, Malta</span> Local council in Central Region, Malta

Saint Julian's is a town in the Central Region of Malta. As of 2020, its registered number of inhabitants stands at 13,792. It is situated along the coast, north of the country's capital, Valletta. It is known for tourism-oriented businesses, such as hotels, restaurants and nightclubs which are centred mainly in an area known as Paceville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sliema</span> Local council in Central Region, Malta

Sliema is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta in the Northern Harbour District. It is a major residential and commercial area and a centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the most densely populated town on the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Leonardo</span>

Fort Leonardo, also known as Fort San Leonardo or Fort San Anard, is a polygonal fort in Żabbar, Malta. It was built between 1872 and 1878 by the British between the villages of San Leonardo and Żonqor above the shore east of the Grand Harbour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Delimara</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort San Lucian</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Manoel</span> Star fort in Gzira, Malta

Fort Manoel is a star fort on Manoel Island in Gżira, Malta. It was built in the 18th century by the Order of Saint John, during the reign of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, after whom it is named. Fort Manoel is located to the north west of Valletta, and commands Marsamxett Harbour and the anchorage of Sliema Creek. The fort is an example of Baroque architecture, and it was designed with both functionality and aesthetics in mind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Saint Rocco</span> Fort in Kalkara, Malta

Fort Saint Rocco, also known as Fort Saint Roca on some maps, is a polygonal fort in Kalkara, Malta. It is located east of Rinella Battery and seaward of the village of Santu Rokku, and forms part of the complex of shore batteries built by the British to defend the coast east of the mouth of Grand Harbour between the 1870s and 1900s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Tas-Silġ</span>

Fort Tas-Silġ is a polygonal fort in Marsaxlokk, Malta. It was built between 1879 and 1883 by the British on high ground at the shoreward end of Delimara Point, above il-Ħofra-ż-Żgħira. Its primary function was as a fire control point controlling the massed guns of Fort Delimara on the headland below.

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

Saint Paul's Battery, also known as Ta' Lombardi Battery, is an artillery battery in Marsaxlokk, Malta. It stands on high ground at the shoreward end of Delimara Point, above il-Ħofra-z-Zgħira. It is a polygonal fort and was built by the British from 1881 to 1886. It commands a field of fire northwards over St Thomas' Bay and Marsaskala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Benghisa</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Lines</span> Line of fortifications in Malta

The Victoria Lines, originally known as the North West Front, are a line of fortifications that spans 12 kilometres along the width of Malta, dividing the north of the island from the more heavily populated south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coastline of Malta</span>

The coastline of Malta consists of bays, sandy beaches, creeks, harbours, small villages, cities, cliffs, valleys, and other interesting sites. Here, there is a list of these different natural features that are found around the coast of Malta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Tigné</span> Polygonal fort in Tigne Point, Malta

Fort Tigné is a polygonal fort in Tigné Point, Sliema, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John between 1793 and 1795 to protect the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour, and it is one of the oldest polygonal forts in the world. The fort was extensively altered by the British in the 19th century, and it remained in use by the military until 1979.

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

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 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.

<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">Cambridge Battery</span>

Cambridge Battery is a Victorian-era battery in Sliema, Malta. It is commonly referred to as Fort Cambridge, although it was never classified as a fort while in use. It originally contained an Armstrong 100-ton gun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Pembroke</span> Polygonal fort in Malta

Fort Pembroke is a polygonal fort in Pembroke, Malta. It was built between 1875 and 1878 by the British to defend part of the Victoria Lines. The fort now houses the Verdala International School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Campbell (Malta)</span> Former fort in Malta

Fort Campbell, also known locally as Il-Fortizza ta' Selmun, is a former fort in Mellieħa, Malta. It was built by the British between 1937 and 1938. It is notable as the most important fortification north of the Victoria Lines, and the last major fortification to be built in Malta. Today, it lies in ruins.

The Sliema Batteries were a series of artillery batteries in Sliema, Malta, that were built by Maltese insurgents during the French blockade of 1798–1800. They were the first in a chain of batteries, redoubts and entrenchments encircling the French positions in Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour.

References

  1. Formosa, Christian. "Colonel Jervois Report of 1866". Malta Military. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  2. Castillo, Dennis Angelo (2006). The Maltese Cross: A Strategic History of Malta. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 134. ISBN   0313323291.
  3. "Sliema Tourist Attractions". PlanetWare. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  4. "History". sliema-asc.org.mt. Sliema Aquatic Sports Club. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  5. "About us". fortizzamalta.com. Fortizza Bar & Restaurant. Retrieved 11 January 2015.