Sliema Point Battery

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).

Sliema Point Battery
Il-Fortizza ta' Tas-Sliema
Sliema, Malta
Sliema Point Battery
Coordinates35°54′50.9″N 14°30′25.7″E
TypeArtillery battery
Site information
Controlled byFortizza Bar & Restaurant
Open to
the public		Yes (as a restaurant)
ConditionIntact
Websitehttp://fortizzamalta.com/
Site history
Built1872-1876
Built byBritish Empire
MaterialsLimestone

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]

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.
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