Tarġa Battery: Difference between revisions
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| partof = the [[Victoria Lines]] |
| partof = the [[Victoria Lines]] |
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| location = [[St. Paul's Bay]]/[[Mosta]], [[Malta]] |
| location = [[St. Paul's Bay]]/[[Mosta]], [[Malta]] |
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| image = |
| image = Malta - St.Paul's Bay - Tat-Targa Battery 06 ies.jpg |
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| image_size = 300px |
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| caption = Tarġa Battery |
| caption = Tarġa Battery |
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| type = [[Artillery battery]] |
| type = [[Artillery battery]] |
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| coordinates = {{coord|35|54|59.3|N|14|24|34|E|type:landmark|display=inline}} |
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| latd = 35 | latm = 54 | lats = 59.3 | latNS = N |
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| longd = 14 | longm = 24 | longs = 34 | longEW = E |
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| ownership = [[Government of Malta]] |
| ownership = [[Government of Malta]] |
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| controlledby = [[Mosta]] Local Council |
| controlledby = [[Mosta]] Local Council |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Tarġa Battery''' ({{ |
'''Tarġa Battery''' ({{langx|mt|Batterija tat-Tarġa}}) is an [[artillery battery]] on the boundary between [[St. Paul's Bay]] and [[Mosta]], [[Malta]]. It was built in 1887 by the British as part of the [[Victoria Lines]]. The battery is now in the hands of the Mosta Local Council, who intend to restore it and open it to the public. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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[[File:Tarġa_Battery_door.jpeg|thumb|right|Main entrance door]] |
[[File:Tarġa_Battery_door.jpeg|thumb|right|Main entrance door]] |
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Tarġa Battery was built in 1887 as part of the North West Front (later renamed the [[Victoria Lines]]), between the [[Dwejra Lines]] and [[Fort Mosta]]. The battery was built to protect the defensive line's low escarpment at Tarġa Gap, and it was meant to defend the area from enemy batteries which could be constructed on [[Bidnija]] Hill.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fortifications|url=http://mostalocalcouncil.com/readarticle.php?id=12|website=Mosta Local Council|archiveurl= |
Tarġa Battery was built in 1887 as part of the North West Front (later renamed the [[Victoria Lines]]), between the [[Dwejra Lines]] and [[Fort Mosta]]. The battery was built to protect the defensive line's low escarpment at Tarġa Gap, and it was meant to defend the area from enemy batteries which could be constructed on [[Bidnija]] Hill.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fortifications|url=http://mostalocalcouncil.com/readarticle.php?id=12|website=Mosta Local Council|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611120708/http://mostalocalcouncil.com/readarticle.php?id=12|archivedate=11 June 2010}}</ref> |
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[[File:Tat-Targa_Battery.jpeg|thumb|left|The battery in April 2016]] |
[[File:Tat-Targa_Battery.jpeg|thumb|left|The battery in April 2016]] |
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[[File:Tat-targa_baterija.jpeg|thumb|left]] |
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The battery has a pentagonal shape, and it contains a [[caponier]], casemated gun emplacements, an escarpment and a ditch. An infantry [[redoubt]] was built at the rear of the battery. Some alterations were made to the structure between the 1890s and the first half of the 20th century. |
The battery has a pentagonal shape, and it contains a [[caponier]], casemated gun emplacements, an escarpment and a ditch. An infantry [[redoubt]] was built at the rear of the battery. Some alterations were made to the structure between the 1890s and the first half of the 20th century. |
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In 1888, when it was still under construction, the battery's design was criticized by a number of British engineers. The decision was taken to complete the battery, but it never received its intended armament of four [[RML 64 pounder 64 cwt gun|64-pounder RML guns]]. The entire Victoria Lines were of dubious defensive value, and the entire system of fortifications (with the exception of [[Fort Madalena]] and [[Fort Binġemma]]) was decommissioned in 1907. |
In 1888, when it was still under construction, the battery's design was criticized by a number of British engineers. The decision was taken to complete the battery, but it never received its intended armament of four [[RML 64 pounder 64 cwt gun|64-pounder RML guns]]. The entire Victoria Lines were of dubious defensive value, and the entire system of fortifications (with the exception of [[Fort Madalena]] and [[Fort Binġemma]]) was decommissioned in 1907. |
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The former battery was then used as a magazine or storage area, and it was used for training and storage by the Civil Defence just after [[World War II]].<ref name=militarch>{{cite web|title=Targa Battery Open Day|url=http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Conservation/targe-battery-open-day.html|website=MilitaryArchitecture.com|accessdate=10 July 2015|date=24 May 2012}}</ref> |
The former battery was then used as a magazine or storage area, and it was used for training and storage by the Civil Defence just after [[World War II]].<ref name=militarch>{{cite web|title=Targa Battery Open Day|url=http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Conservation/targe-battery-open-day.html|website=MilitaryArchitecture.com|accessdate=10 July 2015|date=24 May 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150403140959/http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Conservation/targe-battery-open-day.html |archive-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> |
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==Present day== |
==Present day== |
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The Land Ministry passed the battery to the [[Mosta]] Local Council, who cleaned it up along with the Mosta Scout Group in May 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Targa Battery|url=http://www.it-tarka.com/targa-battery.php|website=Harsien Patrimonju Mosti|accessdate=10 July 2015}}</ref> The |
The Land Ministry passed the battery to the [[Mosta]] Local Council, who cleaned it up along with the Mosta Scout Group in May 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Targa Battery|url=http://www.it-tarka.com/targa-battery.php|website=Harsien Patrimonju Mosti|accessdate=10 July 2015}}</ref> The site is now the Mosta Scout Group's campsite and activity centre.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/MostaScoutCampsite {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref> |
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===The battery=== |
===The battery=== |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Targa Battery}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Targa Battery}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Artillery battery fortifications in Malta]] |
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[[Category:St. Paul's Bay]] |
[[Category:St. Paul's Bay]] |
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[[Category:Mosta]] |
[[Category:Mosta]] |
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[[Category:British |
[[Category:British fortifications in Malta]] |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1887]] |
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1887]] |
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[[Category:Limestone buildings in Malta]] |
[[Category:Limestone buildings in Malta]] |
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[[Category:19th-century fortifications]] |
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Latest revision as of 10:29, 9 November 2024
| Tarġa Battery | |
|---|---|
Batterija tat-Tarġa | |
| Part of the Victoria Lines | |
| St. Paul's Bay/Mosta, Malta | |
 Tarġa Battery | |
| Coordinates | 35°54′59.3″N 14°24′34″E / 35.916472°N 14.40944°E |
| Type | Artillery battery |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Malta |
| Controlled by | Mosta Local Council |
| Open to the public | No |
| Condition | Intact |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1887–1890s |
| Built by | British Empire |
| Materials | Limestone |
Tarġa Battery (Maltese: Batterija tat-Tarġa) is an artillery battery on the boundary between St. Paul's Bay and Mosta, Malta. It was built in 1887 by the British as part of the Victoria Lines. The battery is now in the hands of the Mosta Local Council, who intend to restore it and open it to the public.
History
[edit]
Tarġa Battery was built in 1887 as part of the North West Front (later renamed the Victoria Lines), between the Dwejra Lines and Fort Mosta. The battery was built to protect the defensive line's low escarpment at Tarġa Gap, and it was meant to defend the area from enemy batteries which could be constructed on Bidnija Hill.[1]
The battery has a pentagonal shape, and it contains a caponier, casemated gun emplacements, an escarpment and a ditch. An infantry redoubt was built at the rear of the battery. Some alterations were made to the structure between the 1890s and the first half of the 20th century.
In 1888, when it was still under construction, the battery's design was criticized by a number of British engineers. The decision was taken to complete the battery, but it never received its intended armament of four 64-pounder RML guns. The entire Victoria Lines were of dubious defensive value, and the entire system of fortifications (with the exception of Fort Madalena and Fort Binġemma) was decommissioned in 1907.
The former battery was then used as a magazine or storage area, and it was used for training and storage by the Civil Defence just after World War II.[2]
Present day
[edit]The Land Ministry passed the battery to the Mosta Local Council, who cleaned it up along with the Mosta Scout Group in May 2012.[3] The site is now the Mosta Scout Group's campsite and activity centre.[4]
The battery
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Fortifications". Mosta Local Council. Archived from the original on 11 June 2010.
- ^ "Targa Battery Open Day". MilitaryArchitecture.com. 24 May 2012. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "Targa Battery". Harsien Patrimonju Mosti. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/MostaScoutCampsite [user-generated source]
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tat-Tarġa Battery.
