55:
711:
977:
1116:
319:
67:
395:
has asked for permission to take over the battery and restore it. In response, the
Superintendence of Cultural Heritage made a request to the Land Department, which issued an eviction order against Rook Limited in 2007. Since then, the battery has been in the midst of a legal battle between the
360:
The battery consists of a semi-circular gun platform ringed by a parapet with six embrasures, and two blockhouses joined by a wall. The blockhouses had musketry loopholes intended to protect the battery from a land attack. A ramp originally led to the entrance, which is located between the
387:
was transferred to Rook
Limited in 1981, and the lease expired in February 2003, but the company continued to occupy the battery. It was subsequently abandoned and it fell into a state of disrepair. The area around it, including the salt pans, is also in a dilapidated state.
256:
in 1715 and 1716 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the coasts of the
Maltese Islands. It retained its original layout until the late 1970s, when it was converted into a discothèque and snack bar known as
1272:
604:
265:) and major alterations were made to the battery. The building, in the midst of a legal battle between the government and a private company, is now abandoned and in a dilapidated state.
383:
and snack bar. At this point, some structures were built on the gun platform, the entrance was enlarged, and the ramp leading to it was replaced by a flight of steps. The
459:
556:
655:
1171:
579:
364:
It was initially armed with six guns, but in 1770, its armament consisted of four 6-pounder guns with 276 rounds of roundshot and 60 rounds of grapeshot.
1252:
1242:
614:
481:
1282:
277:
82:
1247:
687:
533:
399:
The battery was vandalized several times, including in 2013 when graffiti were sprayed over the facade. This has since been removed.
629:
415:
467:
1267:
564:
280:, and as such it is the northernmost fortification in Malta. The battery is also known by a number of other names, including
1277:
916:
437:
715:
710:
516:
680:
589:
1090:
346:(the White Hillock). It was designed by the military engineers Jacques de Camus d'Arginy and Bernard de Fontet.
981:
361:
blockhouses. The battery's seaward side is protected by a small ditch, and salt pans are located close by.
330:
Qolla l-Bajda
Battery was built by the Order of Saint John in 1716 on the spur of land between the bays of
1262:
930:
673:
1257:
892:
489:
269:
1063:
54:
1036:
991:
367:
The battery was abandoned in the 19th century, but was again used as
Observation Post No. 5 during
1176:
911:
897:
541:
1009:
1181:
1133:
268:
Qolla l-Bajda
Battery is one of only two surviving batteries on Gozo, the other one being
8:
1018:
1000:
878:
850:
379:
In 1978, the government leased the battery to
Francis Vella, and it was converted into a
253:
181:
132:
1099:
925:
869:
639:
423:
944:
799:
744:
660:
634:
392:
1128:
1081:
1045:
954:
776:
753:
696:
512:
241:
237:
117:
37:
1210:
887:
822:
1205:
1157:
1143:
1072:
1054:
959:
949:
935:
794:
445:
354:
297:
285:
223:
1195:
964:
349:
The battery is the only surviving part of a chain of fortifications that defended
1200:
1186:
902:
735:
1148:
1138:
1120:
1115:
831:
785:
767:
758:
730:
609:
584:
350:
725:
1236:
1027:
845:
808:
97:
84:
66:
1166:
836:
368:
262:
211:
357:, batteries, redoubts and entrenchments were all demolished or destroyed.
859:
817:
384:
273:
318:
331:
665:
380:
201:
1273:
National
Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands
656:
National
Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands
339:
335:
700:
249:
45:
508:
353:
and nearby bays from
Ottoman or Barbary attacks. The other
276:. It is not far from the northernmost point of the island,
245:
41:
71:
Map of Qolla l-Bajda Battery in its original configuration
605:"Historic battery at risk as legal battle drags on"
416:"Qolla Bajda – The White Qolla – Marsalforn, Gozo"
1234:
502:
627:
681:
511:: Miller Distributors Ltd. pp. 119–120.
231:
557:"Qolla l-Bajda in the Haven of the Hillocks"
505:Heritage Saved – Din l-Art Ħelwa – 1965–2015
661:Photos of Il-Qolla l-Bajda Battery May 2016
554:
1253:Military installations established in 1716
688:
674:
555:Baumgartner, Beatrice (11 November 2013).
1243:Artillery battery fortifications in Malta
628:Caruana Dingli, Petra (1 October 2013).
602:
317:
1283:18th Century military history of Malta
1235:
695:
577:
669:
531:
326:, with the battery in the background.
1248:Hospitaller fortifications in Malta
13:
496:
438:"Marsalforn Culture & History"
14:
1294:
649:
503:Farrugia Randon, Stanley (2015).
374:
1114:
975:
898:St. Julian's Tower & Battery
709:
603:Micallef, Keith (4 April 2016).
578:Theuma, Simon (8 October 2006).
65:
53:
16:Artillery Battery in Gozo, Malta
917:St. Mary's Battery (Marsalforn)
621:
1221:
1189:
1160:
1151:
1102:
1093:
1084:
1075:
1066:
1057:
1048:
1039:
1030:
1021:
1012:
1003:
994:
960:Wignacourt Tower & Battery
938:
926:St. Thomas Tower & Battery
919:
905:
903:St. Lucian Tower & Battery
881:
872:
853:
839:
825:
811:
802:
788:
779:
770:
761:
747:
738:
596:
571:
548:
532:Vella, Fiona (13 March 2015).
525:
474:
452:
430:
408:
338:. It was named after a nearby
1:
402:
1268:Limestone buildings in Malta
759:Delimara Tower & Battery
534:"Our damned cultural apathy"
396:government and the company.
7:
1278:18th-century fortifications
912:St. Mary's Battery (Comino)
561:bphotographyb.wordpress.com
228:Batterija tal-Qolla l-Bajda
29:Batterija tal-Qolla l-Bajda
10:
1299:
313:
1219:
1112:
973:
860:Qawra Tower & Battery
726:Aħrax Tower & Battery
707:
233:Fortina tal-Qolla l-Bajda
207:
197:
187:
177:
169:
164:
156:
146:
138:
128:
123:
113:
76:
64:
52:
35:
26:
21:
992:Capuchin Convent Battery
630:"Qolla l-Bajda Battery"
460:"Qolla l-Bajda Battery"
270:Saint Anthony's Battery
98:36.079833°N 14.251278°E
1149:Night Practice Battery
327:
301:
289:
252:. It was built by the
232:
227:
160:Intact but dilapidated
893:St. Anthony's Battery
865:Qolla l-Bajda Battery
321:
302:Batterija tal-Qbajjar
220:Qolla l-Bajda Battery
59:Qolla l-Bajda Battery
22:Qolla l-Bajda Battery
1182:Sliema Point Battery
1172:San Giovanni Battery
1134:Della Grazie Battery
1064:Ta' Għemmuna Battery
642:on 14 December 2013.
442:Żebbuġ Local Council
290:Batterija tax-Xwejni
103:36.079833; 14.251278
1037:St. Peter's Battery
1019:Jesuit Hill Battery
1001:Corradino Batteries
879:Ramla Right Battery
851:Qalet Marku Battery
426:on 29 January 2016.
254:Order of Saint John
182:Order of Saint John
133:Government of Malta
94: /
1263:Defunct nightclubs
1177:St. Paul's Battery
870:Ramla Left Battery
716:Sovereign Military
482:"Il-Qolla Battery"
328:
139:Controlled by
1230:
1229:
1129:Cambridge Battery
1082:Tas-Samra Battery
1046:San Rocco Battery
982:National Congress
955:Wied Musa Battery
777:Elminiech Battery
754:De Guiral Battery
544:on 16 March 2015.
448:on 13 March 2016.
238:artillery battery
217:
216:
191:1716–19th century
118:Artillery battery
1290:
1225:Demolished/ruins
1224:
1206:Wolseley Battery
1192:
1163:
1158:Pembroke Battery
1154:
1144:Lascaris Battery
1119:
1118:
1105:
1100:Żejtun Batteries
1096:
1091:Żabbar Batteries
1087:
1078:
1073:Tal-Borg Battery
1069:
1060:
1055:Sliema Batteries
1051:
1042:
1033:
1024:
1015:
1010:Għargħar Battery
1006:
997:
980:
979:
978:
950:Westreme Battery
941:
936:Tombrell Battery
931:Saluting Battery
922:
908:
884:
875:
856:
842:
828:
814:
805:
795:Ferretti Battery
791:
782:
773:
764:
750:
741:
714:
713:
690:
683:
676:
667:
666:
644:
643:
638:. Archived from
625:
619:
618:
617:on 4 April 2016.
613:. Archived from
600:
594:
593:
592:on 4 March 2016.
588:. Archived from
575:
569:
568:
567:on 4 March 2016.
563:. Archived from
552:
546:
545:
540:. Archived from
529:
523:
522:
500:
494:
493:
492:on 3 March 2016.
488:. Archived from
478:
472:
471:
470:on 5 March 2016.
466:. Archived from
456:
450:
449:
444:. Archived from
434:
428:
427:
422:. Archived from
412:
235:
124:Site information
109:
108:
106:
105:
104:
99:
95:
92:
91:
90:
87:
69:
57:
48:
19:
18:
1298:
1297:
1293:
1292:
1291:
1289:
1288:
1287:
1233:
1232:
1231:
1226:
1215:
1201:Wardija Battery
1187:Spinola Battery
1167:Rinella Battery
1113:
1108:
983:
976:
974:
969:
945:Vendôme Battery
800:Għallis Battery
745:Buġibba Battery
736:Balbani Battery
717:
708:
703:
694:
652:
647:
635:Din l-Art Ħelwa
626:
622:
601:
597:
580:"Qolla Battery"
576:
572:
553:
549:
530:
526:
519:
501:
497:
480:
479:
475:
458:
457:
453:
436:
435:
431:
414:
413:
409:
405:
393:Din l-Art Ħelwa
377:
316:
294:Qbajjar Battery
192:
149:the public
148:
102:
100:
96:
93:
88:
85:
83:
81:
80:
72:
60:
36:
31:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1296:
1286:
1285:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1228:
1227:
1220:
1217:
1216:
1214:
1213:
1211:Żonqor Battery
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1169:
1164:
1155:
1146:
1141:
1139:Garden Battery
1136:
1131:
1125:
1123:
1121:British Empire
1110:
1109:
1107:
1106:
1097:
1088:
1079:
1070:
1061:
1052:
1043:
1034:
1025:
1016:
1007:
998:
988:
986:
971:
970:
968:
967:
962:
957:
952:
947:
942:
933:
928:
923:
914:
909:
900:
895:
890:
888:Riħama Battery
885:
876:
867:
862:
857:
848:
843:
834:
832:Mistra Battery
829:
823:Maħsel Battery
820:
815:
806:
797:
792:
786:Fedeau Battery
783:
774:
768:Dellia Battery
765:
756:
751:
742:
733:
731:Arrias Battery
728:
722:
720:
718:Order of Malta
705:
704:
693:
692:
685:
678:
670:
664:
663:
658:
651:
650:External links
648:
646:
645:
620:
610:Times of Malta
595:
585:Times of Malta
570:
547:
524:
517:
495:
486:Malta Military
473:
451:
429:
406:
404:
401:
376:
375:Recent history
373:
315:
312:
282:Xwejni Battery
215:
214:
209:
205:
204:
199:
195:
194:
189:
185:
184:
179:
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171:
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136:
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111:
110:
78:
74:
73:
70:
62:
61:
58:
50:
49:
33:
32:
27:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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1241:
1240:
1238:
1223:
1218:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1196:Tarġa Battery
1194:
1191:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1165:
1162:
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1086:
1083:
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1077:
1074:
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1065:
1062:
1059:
1056:
1053:
1050:
1047:
1044:
1041:
1038:
1035:
1032:
1029:
1028:Marsa Battery
1026:
1023:
1020:
1017:
1014:
1011:
1008:
1005:
1002:
999:
996:
993:
990:
989:
987:
985:
972:
966:
965:Wilġa Battery
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
946:
943:
940:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
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918:
915:
913:
910:
907:
904:
901:
899:
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891:
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886:
883:
880:
877:
874:
871:
868:
866:
863:
861:
858:
855:
852:
849:
847:
846:Pinto Battery
844:
841:
838:
835:
833:
830:
827:
824:
821:
819:
816:
813:
810:
809:Lembi Battery
807:
804:
801:
798:
796:
793:
790:
787:
784:
781:
778:
775:
772:
769:
766:
763:
760:
757:
755:
752:
749:
746:
743:
740:
737:
734:
732:
729:
727:
724:
723:
721:
719:
712:
706:
702:
698:
691:
686:
684:
679:
677:
672:
671:
668:
662:
659:
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654:
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641:
637:
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631:
624:
616:
612:
611:
606:
599:
591:
587:
586:
581:
574:
566:
562:
558:
551:
543:
539:
535:
528:
520:
518:9789995752132
514:
510:
506:
499:
491:
487:
483:
477:
469:
465:
464:visitgozo.com
461:
455:
447:
443:
439:
433:
425:
421:
417:
411:
407:
400:
397:
394:
389:
386:
382:
372:
370:
365:
362:
358:
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352:
347:
345:
344:Qolla l-Bajda
341:
337:
333:
325:
324:Qolla l-Bajda
320:
311:
309:
308:
303:
299:
295:
291:
287:
283:
279:
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271:
266:
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239:
234:
229:
225:
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210:
206:
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200:
196:
190:
186:
183:
180:
178:Built by
176:
172:
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163:
159:
155:
151:
145:
141:
137:
134:
131:
127:
122:
119:
116:
112:
107:
79:
75:
68:
63:
56:
51:
47:
43:
39:
34:
30:
25:
20:
1258:Żebbuġ, Gozo
1222:
1190:
1161:
1152:
1103:
1094:
1085:
1076:
1067:
1058:
1049:
1040:
1031:
1022:
1013:
1004:
995:
939:
920:
906:
882:
873:
864:
854:
840:
837:Orsi Battery
826:
812:
803:
789:
780:
771:
762:
748:
739:
640:the original
633:
623:
615:the original
608:
598:
590:the original
583:
573:
565:the original
560:
550:
542:the original
537:
527:
504:
498:
490:the original
485:
476:
468:the original
463:
454:
446:the original
441:
432:
424:the original
419:
410:
398:
390:
378:
369:World War II
366:
363:
359:
348:
343:
329:
323:
322:The hillock
306:
305:
293:
281:
267:
258:
219:
218:
212:World War II
208:Battles/wars
165:Site history
147:Open to
142:Rook Limited
28:
818:Low Battery
538:Little Rock
420:geulogy.com
385:emphyteusis
381:discothèque
278:Reqqa Point
263:chess piece
261:(after the
188:In use
101: /
89:14°15′4.6″E
86:36°4′47.4″N
77:Coordinates
1237:Categories
984:Battalions
403:References
351:Marsalforn
697:Batteries
342:known as
304:) or the
202:Limestone
198:Materials
173:1715–1716
157:Condition
391:The NGO
307:Castello
236:) is an
340:hillock
336:Qbajjar
314:History
298:Maltese
286:Maltese
224:Maltese
515:
355:towers
332:Xwejni
242:Żebbuġ
38:Żebbuġ
701:Malta
250:Malta
193:1940s
170:Built
129:Owner
46:Malta
513:ISBN
509:Luqa
334:and
274:Qala
259:Rook
246:Gozo
114:Type
42:Gozo
699:in
292:),
272:in
240:in
230:or
1239::
632:.
607:.
582:.
559:.
536:.
507:.
484:.
462:.
440:.
418:.
371:.
310:.
300::
288::
248:,
244:,
226::
152:No
44:,
40:,
689:e
682:t
675:v
521:.
296:(
284:(
222:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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