Wied Musa Battery ( mt, Batterija ta' Wied Musa), also known as Swatar Battery ( mt, Batterija tas-Swatar), is a former artillery battery in

Marfa Marfa may refer to: Music * Marfa (instrument), an African percussion instrument * Marfa (music), celebratory music of the Hyderabadi Muslims Places * Márfa, a village in Baranya county, Hungary * Marfa, Chad * Marfa, Texas, a city in the hi ...

, limits of

Mellieħa Mellieħa ( mt, il-Mellieħa ) is a large village in the Northern Region of Malta. It has a population of 10,087 as of March 2014. Mellieħa is also a tourist resort, popular for its sandy beaches and natural environment. Etymology The name ''M ...

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

. It was built by the

Order of Saint John The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem ( la, Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani), commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), was a medieval and early modern Catholic military order. It was headq ...

in 1714–1716 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands. In the 19th century, the battery was converted into the Marfa Palace Hotel, and it is also known as Palazz l-Aħmar (Red Palace). The structure was extensively modified in the process, and its blockhouse was incorporated into new buildings. Despite this, the parapet is still intact and is among the best preserved gun platforms in Malta.

History

Wied Musa Battery was built in 1714–1716 as part of the first building programme of coastal fortifications in Malta. It was part of a chain of fortifications that defended the northern coast of Malta, which also included Aħrax Tower, several batteries, redoubts and entrenchments. The nearest fortification to Wied Musa Battery is Tal-Bir Redoubt to the east. Wied Musa Battery also commanded the South Comino Channel in conjunction with

Saint Mary's Battery Saint Mary's Battery ( mt, Batterija ta' Santa Marija), also known as Comino Battery ( mt, Batterija ta' Kemmuna), is an artillery battery on the island of Comino in Malta. It was built by the Knights Hospitaller, Order of Saint John between 171 ...

on the island of

Comino Comino ( mt, Kemmuna) is a small island of the Maltese archipelago between the islands of Malta and Gozo in the Mediterranean Sea, measuring in area. Named after the cumin seed, the island has a permanent population of only two residents and ...

. The battery originally consisted of a semi-circular gun platform with a parapet having four embrasures. It had a rectangular blockhouse closing its gorge, which was also protected by a

redan Redan (a French word for "projection", "salient") is a feature of fortifications. It is a work in a V-shaped salient angle towards an expected attack. It can be made from earthworks or other material. The redan developed from the lunette, o ...

. Construction of the battery cost 938 scudi, one third of which were donated by Commander Mongontier. In 1785, its armament consisted of four 8-pounder guns. Its ammunition was stored in the nearby Saint Agatha's Tower. In the 19th century, a hotel was built on the rear of the battery. The blockhouse was incorporated into the new structure, and the redan was demolished. The hotel and battery were later used as a retreat house and as a police station. The structure fell into disuse in the 1990s, and it was illegally occupied by squatters. They were evicted after a fire broke out in 2005, and the hotel and battery have remained abandoned ever since.

Present day

Since the blockhouse was incorporated into a hotel, only its left room has survived more or less intact. The blockhouse's musketry loopholes are still visible. The battery's gun platform still exists in a good state of preservation. Its original hardstone flagstones and places for stacking cannonballs have also survived. The entire building is abandoned, and is in a rather dilapidated state although the structure is stable. Renovation would cost an estimated €1.2 million, and it could fetch up to €10 million if converted into a private residence. In October 2013, the government issued a call for expressions of interest for the restoration and development of Marfa Palace and four other sites. Six expressions of interest were received, but only one bid was made when a request was made for formal proposals. The bid was made by Exclusivity Malta Ltd, who intend to transform it into a boutique hotel.

References

External links

National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands
{{Batteries in Malta Batteries in Malta Palaces in Malta Hospitaller fortifications in Malta Mellieħa Defunct police stations in Malta Limestone buildings in Malta National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands Military installations established in 1715 18th-century fortifications 1715 establishments in Malta Evicted squats 18th Century military history of Malta