Naxxar Entrenchment

The Naxxar Entrenchment (Maltese: Trunċiera fin-Naxxar) is an infantry entrenchment in Naxxar, Malta, which was built in the 18th century by the Order of Saint John. Today, it lies in ruins but is still the best preserved inland entrenchment in Malta. It is a list monument of the NICPMI.[1]

Naxxar Entrenchment
Trunċiera fin-Naxxar
Naxxar, Malta
One of the redans of the Naxxar Entrenchment
Map of the Naxxar Entrenchment
Coordinates35°55′27.5″N 14°26′18″E
TypeEntrenchment
Site information
OwnerGovernment of Malta
ConditionRuins
Site history
Built1722
Built byOrder of Saint John
MaterialsLimestone

History

The Naxxar Entrenchment is part of a series of fortifications built by the Order of Saint John in the early 18th century. The building programme began in 1714-16 with the construction of coastal batteries, redoubts and coastal entrenchments. By 1722, it was realized that there weren't enough soldiers to man all the fortifications, so the Order decided that in the case of an invasion, they would retreat to the Great Fault, a large fault cutting across northern Malta.[2][3]

To be able to do this, construction was begun on a series of entrenchments close to the fault. These entrenchments were similar to the ones built around the coastline, with the main difference being that they were inland. The Naxxar Entrenchment was built on the high ground of the Great Fault, while other entrenchments were built at Falca Gap, San Pawl tat-Tarġa and other strategic locations.[4]

The entrenchment, which consisted of four redans linked together by curtain walls, was built in 1722. It was built in the pietra a secco manner.[5] A ditch was also excavated along the entrenchment.[6]

The entrenchment was incorporated into the Victoria Lines by the British.[7]

Present day
One of the redans

Today, the entrenchment lies in ruins, but it is considered to be the best preserved inland entrenchment in Malta.[7] Most of the curtain walls had collapsed by the 1970s, but the redans remain largely intact.[5] Part of the entrenchment is breached by Triq is-Salina, the road leading to Magħtab and Salina.

References
  1. https://culture.gov.mt/en/culturalheritage/NICPMI_Database/1427.pdf
  2. "Inland Entenchments". maltamilitary.0catch.com. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  3. Grima, Reuben; Vassallo, Mario. "Narrating the Mġarr landscape" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  4. Debono, Charles. "Coastal Entrenchments". Mellieha.com. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  5. "Naxxar Entrenchment" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  6. "Other Places of Interest". Naxxar Local Council. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017.
  7. Spiteri, Stephen C. "Naxxar and its fortifications". MilitaryArchitecture.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
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