Dellija Redoubt

The redoubt was located roughly at the centre of this photo

Dellija Redoubt, also known as Vendôme Battery or Pwales Right Battery, was a redoubt^{[lower-alpha 1]} in Xemxija Bay, limits of St. Paul's Bay, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1715 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the coasts of the Maltese Islands. It was demolished in 1924.

History

Dellija Redoubt was built in 1715 as part of the Order of Saint John's first building program of coastal fortifications. It was one of two redoubts defending Xemxija Bay.^[1] The redoubt on the other side of the bay, known as Arrias Battery, still survives.

In the early 20th century, the redoubt served as a summer residence for the consul-general of Austria-Hungary, Antonio Muscat Fenech. At this point, an extension was added to the redoubt, and it flew the Union jack and Austro-Hungarian ensign.^[2]

Dellija Redoubt was demolished in 1924 to make way for a new road, but the three escutcheons with coats of arms and a commemorative marble plaque which stood on the doorway were retained. The parapet was also retained, but it was eventually demolished after World War II when a roundabout was built in its place.

Today, the only remains of the redoubt are the coats of arms and plaque which formerly stood on the doorway. These are mounted on a plinth on the side of the road. In addition, the foundations possibly still exist, buried under the modern road.^[3]

References

Notes

External links

• National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands