Fort Mellieħa Explained

Fort Mellieħa
Native Name:Il-Fortizza tal-Mellieħa
Location:Mellieħa, Malta
Type:Fort
Coordinates:35.9554°N 14.3653°W
Ownership:Government of Malta
Controlledby:Mellieħa Scout Group
Built:1940s
Builder:British Empire
Condition:Intact
Battles:World War II

Fort Mellieħa or Mellieħa Fort (Maltese: Il-Fortizza tal-Mellieħa), also known as Il-Fortizza tas-Salib (meaning Fort of the Cross),[1] is a World War II-era fort in Mellieħa, Malta. It was built by the British on top of Mellieħa Hill, to serve as a civil defence depot and an observation post.[2] The structure is lightly fortified by a perimeter wall.[3]

The fort is now surrounded by residential buildings. Lack of upkeep had affected the structure when, on December 28 1991, the Lands Department leased it to the Mellieħa Scout Group, who restored the building, and now use it as their headquarters. It is the largest scouts headquarters in Malta, and includes kitchens, dormitories, a campsite and underground shelters.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Camilleri. Alex. It-Toponomastika ta' Malta: Il-Mellieħa u Madwarha. L-Imnara. 2011. 9. 4. 195. Għaqda tal-Folklor. Maltese. https://web.archive.org/web/20160417214704/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/L-Imnara/L-Imnara.%2009%282011%294%3D35/05s.pdf. 17 April 2016. dead.
  2. Web site: Muscat. Jimmy. Mellieħa - An introduction to a destination for all seasons. mellieha.gov.mt. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519113234/http://mellieha.gov.mt/mellie%C4%A7a-an-introduction-to-a-destination-for-all-seasons/. 19 May 2015. 14 March 2012.
  3. Spiteri . Stephen C. . A general overview of the fortifications in the locality of Mellieha . Arx – Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification . 2004–2007 . 1–4 . 44 . 14 November 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151115113200/http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/Arx/arx1_4_2008.pdf . 15 November 2015 .
  4. Web site: Mellieha Scout Group. mellieha.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20130414113421/http://www.mellieha.com/scouts/. 14 April 2013.