The restoration of Għallis Tower

THE RESTORATION OF A TOWER

Thanks fo a funding grant from the Majjistral Action Group Foundation, Din l-Art Ħelwa was able to restore the historic Ghallis Tower. This site is held and managed by Din l-Art Ħelwa under a guardianship deed from the Government of Malta.

THE GHALLIS COASTAL WATCH TOWER

The restoration of Ghallis Tower, one of the thirteen coastal watchtowers built by Grand Master Martin De Redin in 1658, has given the tower a new lease of life. Din l-Art Ħelwa worked hard to win a grant for this project from the Majjistral Action Group Foundation.

Together with its restoration Din l-Art Ħelwa has produced a set of educational tools including a very colourful Ebook, available to download through the link below, and also a set of Activity Sheets aimed at children. Military historian Dr Stephen C. Spiteri enriched the visuals with his images of cut through sections of the tower enabling those standing outside to know what lies within.

Ebook Link : http://ghallistower.dinlarthelwa. org/dlh_ghallis-ebook.pdf Activity Sheets Link: http://ghallistower. dinlarthelwa.org/activity_sheets.pdf

The project for the restoration of Ghallis Tower was made possible by the Majjistral Action Group Foundation for development in rural areas in the northern region of Malta under Measure 1: Restoration of Assets of Artistic and Cultural Value and by the Co-Funding Fund for NGOs of the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector.

The Ghallis Tower, located visibly at the mouth of Salina Bay, was the second in a series of coastal watch towers built by Grand Master Martin de Redin to relay warning signals of enemy invasion. Thirteen towers were built by De Redin in just one year, between 1658 and 1659, but today only eight survive.

Ghallis Tower suffers from exposure to the elements due to its proximity to the sea but pollution from coastal traffic and the nearby landfill have also had their impact on its external masonry.

Din l-Art Ħelwa also hopes to be able to regenerate the extensive natural area behind the tower in order to create walking trails and spaces of relaxation which the public can enjoy, with the tower as a focal visitor point. Endemic species can be revived and thus the tower would be protected from the constant dumping of illegal waste.

Anybody wishing to donate funds to Din l-Art Ħelwa for the natural rehabilitation of the area and to Din l-Art Ħelwa’s maintenance programmes for the numerous sites it looks after, can visit www/dinlarthelwa.org/donate, send a donation to 133 Melita Street, Valletta, or become a member of Din l-Art Ħelwa.

Din l-Art Helwa

NATIONAL TRUST OF MALTA

1. Main entrance into tower on first floor 2. Shaft with spiral staircase leading up to roof of tower 3. Wooden ladder (alternatively a rope ladder was also used) 4. Living quarters on first floor (with barrel-vaulted ceiling and floor resting on rib arches) 5. Ground-floor storage room accessed through trap door in the living area 6. Trapdoor providing access down to storage area (by means of a ladder) 7. Terrace / gun platform ringed THE GĦALLIS TOWER by low parapet with embrasures 8. Wooden flagpole for signalling flagONE OF 13 COASTAL WATCH TOWERS BUILT BY GRAND MASTER MARTIN DE REDIN IN 1658 9. Ventilation opening 10. Wellhead with shaft leading down to cistern situated beneath tower

1. Main entrance into tower on rst oor 2. Shaft with spiral staircase leading up to roof of tower Image of Ghallis Tower courtesy of Stephen C. Spiteri 3. Wooden ladder (alternatively a rope ladder was also used) 4. Living quarters on rst oor (with barrel-vaulted ceiling and oor resting on rib arches) 5. Ground- oor storage room accessed through trap door in the living area 6. Trapdoor providing access down to storage area (by means of a ladder) 7. Terrace / gun platform ringed by low parapet with embrasures 8. Wooden agpole for signalling ag 9. Ventilation opening 10. Wellhead with shaft leading down to cistern situated beneath tower