Pembroke, Malta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pembroke, Malta's newest town, is on the northern coast of Malta. To the East is Paceville, the nightlife district of Malta. The coastal town and tourist hub of St. Julian's lies to the South East, and the residential area of Swieqi lies to the South. The upper class hilltop village of Madliena is to its West, and Bahar-ic-Caghak is lies some distance to the North West.
It has an area of 2.3 km², while its population of 2,916 as at November 2005.
Pembroke is named after the 12th Earl of Pembroke and British Secretary of War in 1859.
[edit] History
The town was founded by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem who built two Watch Towers on its coast, and these served as a means of defence for the Grand Harbour, siutauted approximately 6 km to the East. However, it was the British who were instrumental in the development and fortification of Pembroke. The first barracks were constructed between 1859 and 1862 and were named after England's Patron Saint, St George's. Other barracks were built later and named after Ireland and Scotland's Patron Saints, St Patrick and St Andrew. Fort Pembroke was built between 1875 and 1878 to safeguard the seaward approach towards the Grand Harbour and to defend the right flank of the Victoria Lines. It is now the site of an international school offering the IGCSE and IB programmes. Later, Pembroke Battery was built between 1897 and 1899 to serve the same purposes.
The last British soldiers left Pembroke in 1979. During the Second World War, German Prisoners of War were held in Pembroke's fort and during their stay, built a small chapel which served the needs of the British troops. Since then, all the land which had been purchased by the British on their arrival in Malta has been relinquished to the Maltese Government.
[edit] Recent times
Pembroke remained neglected even in the mid-1980's, as the barracks were converted into low-rent residences and an unsuccessful holiday complex. However, the Government began to issue plots of land for sale and the first residents settled in 1986. It has since become a reasonably clean, safe and pleasant town, popular with language students particularly during the summer months.
[edit] See also
| edit | Local Councils of Malta |  |
|---|---|---|
| Malta Island | ||
| Attard | Balzan | Birgu (Vittoriosa) | Birkirkara | Birżebbuġa | Bormla (Cospicua) | Dingli | Fgura | Floriana | Gudja | Gżira | Għargħur | Għaxaq | Ħamrun | Iklin | Isla (Senglea) | Kalkara | Kirkop | Lija | Luqa | Marsa | Marsaskala | Marsaxlokk | Mdina | Mellieħa | Mġarr | Mosta | Mqabba | Msida | Mtarfa | Naxxar | Paola | Pembroke | Pietà | Qormi | Qrendi | Rabat | Safi | San Ġiljan (St. Julian's) | Santa Luċija | San Pawl il-Baħar (St. Paul's Bay) | San Ġwann | Santa Venera | Siġġiewi | Sliema | Swieqi | Ta' Xbiex | Tarxien | Valletta | Xgħajra | Żabbar | Żebbuġ | Żejtun | Żurrieq | ||
| Gozo Island | ||
| Fontana | Għajnsielem | Għarb | Għasri | Kerċem | Munxar | Nadur | Qala | Rabat (Victoria) | San Lawrenz | Sannat | Xagħra | Xewkija | Żebbuġ | ||
