| Spinola Battery | |
|---|---|
|
Batterija ta' Spinola | |
| St. Julian's, Malta | |
| Type | Artillery battery |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1889–1894 |
| Built by | British Empire |
| In use | 1894–1940s |
| Materials | Concrete |
| Fate | Demolished |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Spinola Battery (Maltese language: Batterija ta' Spinola), also known as Fort Spinola, was an artillery battery in St. Julian's, Malta. It was built by the British between 1889 and 1894, and it was demolished to make way for hotels and a yacht marina.
History[]
Construction of Spinola Battery began in 1889 and was completed in 1894, at a cost of around £5000.[1] It was part of a new series of fortifications meant to house breech-loading (BL) guns.[2]
Spinola Battery was located behind the Spinola Entrenchment, an 18th-century bastioned entrenchment wall stretching from St. Julian's Bay to St. George's Bay.[3] Its had a pentagonal shape, and was armed with four guns, including two 9.2 inch BL guns. Its armament was removed in 1907.[4]
The battery saw use again in World War II, when it was armed with 4.5-inch anti-aircraft guns.[5] It was severely damaged by aerial bombardment.
The Hilton Malta Hotel was built in 1967 on the site of the battery. The hotel and any remains of the battery were later completely demolished to make way for the Portomaso Marina.
References[]
- ↑ (Maltese) Guillaumier, Alfie (1987). Bliet u Rħula Maltin. Valletta: Valletta Publishing & Promotion Co. Ltd.. p. 707.
- ↑ Stephenson, Charles (2004). The Fortifications of Malta 1530–1945. Osprey Publishing. p. 41. ISBN 1841766933. https://books.google.com.mt/books?id=XsQ1CdqvyqUC&pg=PA41&lpg=PA41#v=onepage&q&f=false.
- ↑ "Spinola Bay to St Georges Bay Entrenchment". 28 June 2013. http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Knights%20Fortifications/1421.pdf. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ↑ "9.2inch B.L.". http://www.victorianforts.co.uk/art/9_2inchBLGun.htm. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ↑ Debono, Charles (30 January 2011). "The blitz on HMS Illustrious 70 years ago". Times of Malta. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110130/life-features/the-blitz-on-hms-illustrious-70-years-ago.347816. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
The original article can be found at Spinola Battery and the edit history here.