Maħsel Battery

The Maħsel Battery (Maltese: Batterija tal-Maħsel) was an artillery battery in Marsaskala, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1714–1716 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the coasts of the Maltese Islands. The battery no longer exists.

Maħsel Battery
Batterija tal-Maħsel
Marsaskala, Malta
Coordinates35°51′19.1″N 14°33′58.2″E
TypeArtillery battery
Site history
Built1714–1716
Built byOrder of Saint John
MaterialsLimestone
FateDemolished

History

Maħsel Battery was built in 1714–1716 as part of the first building programme of coastal batteries in Malta. It defended St. Thomas Bay along with Riħama Battery on the opposite side of the bay, and St. Thomas Tower and Battery commanding the headland to the north of the bay.[1]

Maħsel Battery's design was similar to that of Riħama Battery, having a pentagonal gun platform and a blockhouse. It was sometimes considered as a redoubt, but it was armed with cannon so it was actually a battery.[2]

In 1761, an entrenchment wall was built close to Maħsel Battery, part of which still survives. The battery itself no longer exists.[2]

gollark: It's in src/util.pt.
gollark: It has extremely high apion density, yes.
gollark: Suuuuure.
gollark: Wondrous.
gollark: <:snub_dodecadodecahedron:800390497431715901> <:snub_dodecadodecahedron:800390497431715901> <:BEES:825515690613145610> <:bees:800387765665398814>

References
  1. "The South East Malta Coastal Defence". Wirt iż-Żejtun. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  2. Spiteri, Stephen C. (28 August 2012). "Campaigning for Rihama Battery". MilitaryArchitecture.com. Retrieved 21 June 2015.


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