Della Grazie Battery

Della Grazie Battery (Maltese: Il-Batterija tal-Grazzja), also known as Xgħajra Battery (Maltese: Il-Batterija tax-Xgħajra), is an artillery battery in Xgħajra, Malta. It was built by the British between 1888 and 1893. The battery stands above the shore to the east of Grand Harbour, between Fort Saint Rocco and Fort Saint Leonardo. It is currently in a dilapidated state, and part of the battery is used as the town hall for Xgħajra.

Della Grazie Battery
Il-Batterija tal-Grazzja
Xgħajra, Malta
Right hand ditch of the battery
Coordinates	35°53′9″N 14°32′58″E
Type	Polygonal artillery battery
Area	28,400 m^2 (306,000 sq ft)[1]
Site information
Controlled by	Xgħajra Local Council
Open to the public	No
Condition	Intact but dilapidated
Site history
Built	1888–1893
Built by	British Empire
In use	1893–1910 1940s
Materials	Limestone
Battles/wars	World War II

History

Construction of the battery started in October 1888 and was completed in March 1893, at a cost of £16,344. It was constructed to take advantage of the improved breech loading guns then coming into service. It was equipped with two 6 inch and two 10 inch breech loading guns in disappearing mounts.

The installation takes the form of a polygonal fort, irregular hexagonal in plan, with two caponiers defending the forward ditches. Access to the fort is via a gatehouse and causeway across the rear ditch.

The battery takes its name from the much earlier Wignacourt tower, the Santa Maria delle Grazie Tower that stood close to the present battery. The tower was demolished to clear the field of fire of the present battery.

The battery was abandoned in 1910 and its guns were removed.[2] However, in World War II the battery was used as a coastal defence search light battery. At this time some structures were added to accommodate the searchlights.[3]

Present day

The battery is now under the care of the Xgħajra Local Council. Part of the battery serves as the town hall for the locality,[4] while the rest of the battery was partially restored in collaboration with Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna. It was planned that the battery will be opened to the public and form the focal point for a public space, Battery Park.[3] The battery is currently in a dilapidated state, with most of its outer revetment walls having collapsed into the ditch.[5]

In 2015, the battery was shortlisted as a possible site for the campus of the proposed American University of Malta. It was not chosen, and the campus is to be split up between Dock No. 1 in Cospicua and Żonqor Point in Marsaskala.[6]

Gallery

The gallery below shows views on an anti-clockwise tour of the exterior of the fort. The rear section of the left hand ditch and the right half or the rear ditch are private property and inaccessible to photograph.

• 
  Layout of the Battery, detail from a sign beside the gate.
• 
  The modern gate that closes off the causeway.
• 
  looking down the rear ditch away from the causeway.
• 
  Looking along the rear ditch towards the causeway, where the musket ports that command the rear ditch, can be seen.
• 
  The corner of the ditch, where the right hand ditch and the rear ditch meet
• 
  Looking towards the rear of the battery along the right hand ditch.
• 
  Looking down the forward ditch, along the line of fire of the right hand caponier.
• 
  View along the forward ditch looking towards the right hand caponier.
• 
  View along the forward ditch towards the left hand caponier in the distance.
• 
  Looking into the battery across the forward ditch.
• 
  The bomb proof roof of the left hand caponier.
• 
  Looking down the left hand ditch of the battery, with the left caponier nestling in the ditch.

References

1. "The American University of Malta - Preliminary Alternative Sites Evaluation Report" (PDF). Office of the Prime Minister. August 2015. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2015.
2. Forrest, Michael. "Della Grazie Battery 1888-1893". Victorian Forts and Artillery. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
3. "General Xghajra History". Xgħajra Local Council. Archived from the original on 2008-03-24.
4. "Contact Us". Xgħajra Local Council. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014.
5. Carabott, Sarah (29 August 2016). "Forts under attack from neglect and vandalism". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016.
6. "'American' University to occupy Dock 1 buildings and reduced Zonqor site". Times of Malta. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.

Further reading

• Della Grazia Battery - Caminada, Jerome (2012). Twenty-Five Years of Detective Life. New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 216–217. ISBN 9781108054775.