Today, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage has entrusted Din l-Art Helwa with the Guardianship Deed for the historic Qolla l-Bajda Battery in Gozo.
The deed, signed at the Office of the Notary to Government in Valletta, formally grants DLH guardianship of the site for an initial period of ten years. Under the agreement, DLH will carry out all necessary restoration works at its own expense, manage the battery as a visitor attraction and ensure public access upon completion of the works.
SCH said that ”the signing of a new Guardianship Deed for the Qolla l-Bajda Battery, is significant deed, given by SCH, and secures ten years of dedicated protection, preservation, and accessibility to one of Gozo’s only surviving batteries, built by the Order of Saint John in 1716.
The Qolla l-Bajda Battery is the only part which survives from a chain of fortifications that defended Marsalforn from maritime attacks.
SCH concluded by saying that it is pleased to entrust Din l-Art Helwa with the Guardianship of this exceptional heritage site, which speaks to Gozo’s enduring historical and cultural landscape, ensuring its legacy is safeguarded for future generations.
DLH said that the Government, through the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, opted to entrust the site to DLH, recognising the organisation’s long-standing expertise in cultural heritage protection, including through its dedicated Gozo branch, Din l-Art Helwa Ghawdex.
Patrick Calleja, Executive President of Din l-Art Helwa, said, “this is a landmark day for Gozo’s heritage. The Qolla l-Bajda Battery is a site of extraordinary historical value and we will now begin the detailed planning and restoration work, ensuring that the battery is not only saved from neglect but opened to all as a living monument to our island’s history.”
Photo: SCH