Elminiech Battery

Elminiech Battery
Batterija t'Elminiech
Birżebbuġa, Malta
Coordinates35°49′4.4″N 14°31′57.8″E / 35.817889°N 14.532722°E / 35.817889; 14.532722
TypeArtillery battery
Site history
Built1715–1716
Built byOrder of Saint John
MaterialsLimestone
FateDemolished

Elminiech Battery (Maltese: Batterija t'Elminiech, corrupted into Batterija ta' Mnieħ), also known as Figuella Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Figuella), San Raimondo Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' San Raimond)[1] or Oitelboura Battery,[2] was an artillery battery in Birżebbuġa, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1715–16 as part of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands.[3]

Built mainly of limestone, Elminiech Battery was part of a chain of fortifications that defended Marsaxlokk Bay, which also included six other batteries, the large Saint Lucian Tower, two smaller De Redin towers, four redoubts and three entrenchments.[4] The nearest fortifications to Elminiech Battery were the Birżebbuġa Entrenchments to the northwest and Fresnoy Redoubt to the east. Construction of the battery cost 1,451 scudi.[5]

The battery was demolished, and its site is now occupied by part of the Malta Freeport.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Birżebbuġa". duluri.wordpress.com (in Maltese). 13 April 2011. Archived from the original on 14 December 2015.
  2. ^ Farrugia Randon, Stanley (2015). Heritage Saved – Din l-Art Ħelwa – 1965–2015. Luqa: Miller Distributors Ltd. p. 119. ISBN 9789995752132.
  3. ^ Zammit, Vincent (1984). "The Order's 18th Century Fortifications". Civilization. 1. Ħamrun: PEG Ltd: 170.
  4. ^ "Vendôme Tower" (PDF). Mare Nostrum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  5. ^ Spiteri, Stephen C. (18 October 2010). "St. Thomas Tower and Battery". MilitaryArchitecture.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  6. ^ "About Birzebbuga". birzebbuga.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
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