Stanley Farrugia Randon

bAtteries aND reDoUbts

Defensive posts at Mellieha

by stanley farrugia randon

Left: Malta-Comino Channel - detail of Don Felice Cutajar map entitled Descrizione delle Isole di Malta, Comino e Gozo, con i nomi delle batterie, carline, trincieramenti, che vi sono intorno le coste di queste isole, 1833.

Above left: Malta-Comino Channel - detail of map of Charles Amadeus De Berey Carte des Isles de Malte, du Goze et du Cuming, 1720 (name of posts inserted by author according to legend).

Above: Crivelli Redoubt. Apart from the battery of the L-Aħrax Tower constructed in 1715, other coastal defences were constructed to defend the Malta-Comino channel. Old maps give us a clear indication where these batteries and redoubts were located.

These are the pen and watercolour map Carte particuliere des Isles de Malte et du Goze, 1719; the Charles Amadeus De Berey map Carte des Isles de Malte, du Goze et du Cuming, dated 1720; the Bowen map An Accurate Map of Malta, Goze and Cuming, dated 1747; the Brian de la Tour map Carte des Isles de Malte et du Goze, dated 1784; and the Don Felice Cutajar map Descrizione delle Isole di Malta, Comino e Gozo, con i nomi delle batterie, carline, trincieramenti, che vi sono intorno le coste di queste isole of 1833.

Entrenchments were also constructed. The batteries and redoubts include the De Louvier Redoubt (Ta’ Ħossiliet, Eslien, Għoslien, White Tower Bay Redoubt), the Crivelli Redoubt (Barriera, Armier Redoubt), the Great Battery of Vendôme (Ta’ Maċċa Battery), D’Escalar Redoubt (Qortin Redoubt), La Spada Redoubt (Wied Musa, Tal-Bir Redoubt) and the Marfa Battery (Wied Musa, Sgħajtar, Sevin de Bandeville Battery) and entrenchments.

Coastal batteries were intended to open fire on troops entering a port. Where possible batteries were erected on each side of a bay to make the most of their cross-fire. Their high and solid parapets, with embrasures, were intended to support heavy cannon firing. The Maltese coastal batteries built by the Order of St John in 1715-1716 followed a pattern evolved by the French at the end of the seventeenth century.

Small blockhouses at the gorge of the battery accommodated the garrison and the ammunition. The outer walls of the blockhouses were fitted with musketry loopholes to defend an eventual landward approach to the battery. Some of the batteries were fitted with one large blockhouse which spanned the entire length of the gorge. The land front of most batteries was fitted with a redan, a V-shaped wall, projecting outwards from the centre of the land front and fitted with musketry loopholes.

Most of the coastal batteries were surrounded by a rock-hewn ditch, and others had a ditch communicating directly with the sea, depending on the nature of the site. Others had only a shallow ditch protecting the redan or simply a pit in front of the main entrance.

The structures and positions of redoubts varied considerably, making it difficult to give a precise definition and model of one. Those constructed around our islands were pentagonal platforms surrounded by shallow parapets and fitted with a single block house at the gorge and surrounded by shallow ditches. They were primarily designed for use by infantry but their platform could accommodate a small number of light cannon.

Entrenchments are irregular walls erected along places accessible to enemy embarcation. These were built in various places including Ramla and Marsalforn bays in Gozo, at Marsaxlokk, Marsascala, St Paul’s Bay, Mellieħa and on the coast overlooking the channel.

Obviously all these sites had to be guarded and armed to withstand an enemy fleet attempting to disembark. The grand masters and knights offered money and fixed their coat-of-arms on them, but it was the Maltese who had to guard them, mostly away from their families and fields. Often there were not even enough men to guard all these posts. Some were abandoned soon after they were built. During the winter months, when bad weather made piracy practically impossible, the guards were not needed and this was a great relief for the Maltese. The coastal posts were more open to deterioration and weathering, especially because of their close proximity to the sea. This made their upkeep even more complicated and costly.

De louvier redoubt (ta’ Ħossiliet, eslien, għoslien, white tower bay redoubt)

This redoubt was built in 1715 as part of the coastal defences proposed by Vendôme and was named after the person who financed part or all of its construction. It was built to attack infantry if the enemy fleet managed to disembark its soldiers after being attacked by the guns of the nearby batteries. Its parapet lacked embrasures. It had the shape of a typical pentagonal redoubt built during this period. The redoubt cost 1239 scudi, 3 tarì, 19 grani and 5 piccoli. The construction of the walls cost 720 scudi, excavation works cost 122 scudi, the five arches supporting the two rooms of the blockhouse cost 20 scudi, the well cost 30 scudi and 144 scudi were spent on transportation of stones and other material.

In his 1829 report Whitmore wrote that the redoubt was bastion-shaped and closed at its gorge by a straight loopholed wall and a barrack which was divided into two rooms. At the time it was unoccupied and lacked doors, windows and a bridge. He proposed the following for its restoration: 550 square feet of masonry, 540 square feet of pavement, 1080 square feet of roofing, 3350 square feet of pointing, 1 pair of

Above left: Descriptive plans of Crown Property in Malta, 1866 (No. 213/232) showing the various batteries, redoubts and entrenchment walls still present (National Archives, Rabat).

Above: The bay where the De Louvier Redoubt once stood.

Above right: Malta-Comino channel - detail of Brian de la Tour map Carte des Isles de Malte et du Goze, 1784.

Coastal batteries were intended to open fire on troops entering a port. Where possible batteries were erected on each side of a bay to make the most of their cross-fire.

doors 10.6 by 5.6 feet each, 1 door 8 by 4 feet, 1 door 6.6 by 3 feet, 2 shutters 6.6 by 3 feet and a cover to the well 2 by 2 feet. Today no remains of this redoubt are visible but its foundations are still buried under the sand.

crivelli redoubt (barriera, Armier redoubt)

This redoubt follows the typical pentagonal plan and is closed at the gorge by a loopholed wall and blockhouse divided into two rooms. A ditch surrounds the whole structure. Fra Ferdinando Crivelli, Prior of the Order of St John, sponsored part or all of the building and he deserved the inscription above the main door which says ‘Il Ven. Prior Di Capua F. Ferdinando Crivelli’. It is also called Barriera Redoubt because of the nearby quarry. The redoubt was constructed at a cost of 955 scudi, 10 tarì, 11 grani and 1 piccolo. The structure included the building of the walls, excavation works, building of the counterscarp, trenching, levelling out of the area, construction of the terrace, the platform, a well for the conservation of water (gebbia), 5 arches, a drawbridge, plastering and transport of material including stones, puzzolana, and lime.

In his 1829 report Whitmore wrote that the Barriera Redoubt was circular, closed at the gorge with a loopholed wall, broken by a redan and including a guard house divided into two chambers, one of which was used as stables. He also wrote that the interior of this work was choked up with drift sand and the woodwork was deficient. It could be that he thought that the structure was circular because the parapet wall was totally covered with sand. He proposed the following for its restoration: 250 square feet of masonry, 348 square feet of pavement, 125 square feet of roofing, 3065 square feet of pointing, 1 pair of doors 10.6 by 5.6 feet each, a door 8 by 4 feet, a door 6.6 by 3 feet, 2 shutters 6.6 by 3 feet each and a cover to the well 2 by 2 feet.

the great battery of vendôme (ta’ maċċa battery)

The construction of the battery cost 1059 scudi, 1 tari and 9 grani. This included the construction of the walls, the counterscarp, excavation, levelling out of the area, trenching works, construction of the terrace, platform, cistern, drawbridge and door, 11 arches, pointing and plastering. It was one of the largest batteries to be constructed in the island and the blockhouse has 11 arches. The pen and watercolour map Carte particuliere des Isles de Malte et du Goze, 1719 documents the presence of 16 cannon. The Felice Cutajar map of 1833 records the same number.

In 1829 Whitmore reported that the battery is ‘semicircular, closed at the gorge by

a loopholed wall broken by a redan. Within is a guard house, divided into two rooms - in bad order and unoccupied’. He estimated that to repair it needed 300 square feet of masonry, 650 square feet of pavement, 350 square feet of platform, 1535 square feet of pointing, 1 pair of doors 10.6 by 5.6 feet each, one door 8 by 4 feet, one door 6.6 by 3 feet, 2 shutters 6.6 by 3 feet each, and a cover to the well 2 by 2 feet.

The battery was scheduled as Grade 1 by the Planning Authority in 1994 and should be conserved and restored. It is surrounded by boathouses and requires restoration. It is not accessible to the public as its entrance is blocked by one of the boathouses and its platform is used to cultivate trees and crops.

D’escalar redoubt (Qortin redoubt)

This redoubt was built to guard Qortin Bay. According to the Whitmore report in 1829 the redoubt was ‘bastion-shaped, closed at the gorge - much dilapidated and unoccupied’. For it to be restored it required 893 square feet of masonry, 376 square feet of pavement, 80 square feet of roofing, 2371 square feet of pointing, 2 doors 8 by 3.6 feet, 1 door 6.9 by 3 feet, 1 shutter 6.6 by 3 feet, 1 door 2 by 3.6 feet and a cover to the well 2 by 2 feet. The redoubt was scheduled as Grade 1 by the Planning Authority in 1995 although all that remains of the original redoubt is the front outer walls. Several alterations and additions were carried out on the blockhouse.

la spada redoubt (wied musa, tal-bir redoubt)

This redoubt was built in 1715 to defend Ramla tal-Bir. It cost 1213 scudi, 8 tarì, 4 grani and 3 piccoli. Work included construction of the walls, platform, palace, excavation works, construction of 5 arches for the blockhouse, puzzolana, lime and transport expenses, plastering and painting. The name La Spada is probably linked to a member of the Order of St John who contributed to the building of this post.

In 1829 Whitmore reported that this defensive post was ‘constructed for the defence of a landing place and of the passages between the islands of Malta and Comino - bastion shaped and closed at the gorge by a loopholed wall and Barrack; the latter is divided into two rooms, they are occupied and in tolerable repair’. He estimated that for its repair there was need of 1040 square feet of pavement, 75 square feet of roofing, 300 square feet of pointing, 1 door 9.6 by 4 feet, 1 door 8 by 3.6 feet, 1 door 6.9 by 3.6 feet, 1 shutter 6.6 by 3 feet and 1 door 2 by 3.6 feet.

The grand masters and knights offered money and fixed their coat-ofarms on them, but it was the Maltese who had to guard them, mostly away from their families and fields.

Above left: Great Battery of Vendôme.

Above: Underground British structure. List of armaments present in the L-Aħrax battery in 1770

Although the outer walls are still clearly visible, the blockhouse is demolished. It is thought that the foundations of the blockhouse were converted into a well - hence the Maltese name of the bay.

marfa battery (wied musa, palazz tal-marfa, sgħajtar, sevin de bandeville battery)

This battery was financed by Fra Charles Sevin de Bandeville who is buried in St John’s Co- Cathedral. It was constructed in 1715 as part of the defences to guard the channel between Malta and Comino. It had four embrasures for four cannon. Originally it consisted of two blockhouses joined together by a redan but it was extensively modified during the initial years of the British period.

The construction of the battery cost 938 scudi, 1 tarì and 8 grani for the construction of walls, excavation, construction of the platform and terrace, trenching, levelling of the ground, 10 arches for the blockhouses, a bridge, a well and channelling of the water, 4 embrasures, plastering and painting, stones, puzzolana, lime, water and transport of material.

In 1829 Whitmore reported that the battery was constructed ‘on the south side of Malta erected to defend the passage between the Island and Comino: semicircular and closed at the gorge by a Barrack divided into three rooms: on these an upper floor was constructed and some additional Building appended by the late Marquess of Hastings, for a summer residence - it is in good repair and occupied’. The only repairs needed at that time were 25 square feet of pavement, as well as repairing and painting of doors.

The pen and watercolour map Carte particuliere des Isles de Malte et du Goze, 1719 (Heritage Malta, Albert Ganado collection), documents the presence of six cannon. The Felice Cutajar map of 1833 records only five pieces of cannon.

british military posts

A number of searchlight and machine gun posts can be discovered if one roams around the garigue surrounding the White Tower. These were partly excavated in the rock and accessed by steps also cut in the rock. They served to protect the soldier who was operating the machine gun or searchlight. The purpose of other structures such as a trench about 20cm wide running from a concrete platform close to the sea towards the battery, through the battery wall and underground towards the tower, has not been identified. Presumably this was used to accomodate a pipe for fuelling boats, or to pass another hydrophone cable other than that documented (and discovered during restoration) to have been running towards Armier Bay. n

stanley farrugia randon is a medical doctor and a council member of Din l-Art Ħelwa