Balbani Battery

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Balbani Battery
Batterija ta' Balbani
Birżebbuġa, Malta
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Type Artillery battery
Site history
Built 1715–1716
Built by Order of Saint John
Materials Limestone
Fate Demolished

Balbani Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Balbani), also known as Bengħisa Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Bengħisa) or Saint Catherine's Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Santa Katarina),[1] was an artillery battery in Birżebbuġa, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1715–1716 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands.[2]

Balbani Battery was part of a chain of fortifications that defended Marsaxlokk Bay, which also included six other batteries, the large Saint Lucian Tower, two smaller De Redin towers, four redoubts and three entrenchments.[3] The nearest fortifications to Balbani Battery were Bengħisa Tower to the south and Fresnoy Redoubt to the west. Construction of the battery cost 1855 scudi.[4] It had a pentagonal platform with a blockhouse at the rear, which was also defended by a redan.

The battery was demolished, and its site is now occupied by part of the Malta Freeport.[5]

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.