In its ongoing efforts to improve the visitors’ experience at St. Agatha’s Tower (The Red Tower) Mellieha, Din l-Art Helwa will be mounting two cannons from the period of the Knights of St. John on the roof the the Tower, this coming Friday, the 18th of January, 2013.
The cannons have been loaned to Din l-Art Helwa by Heritage Malta and have been restored at Din l-Art Helwa’s expense under the supervision of Heritage Malta Curator Mr. E. Magro Conti. Din l-Art Helwa also had new gun carriages built to fit the calibre of the guns.
The Red Tower was completed in 1648 under the Grand Mastership of Jean Paul Lascaris Castellar and had a total of five cannons of different calibre mounted on its roof during the Knights’ period. It was meant to protect Ghadira Bay and the Southern part of the Comino Channel from incursions by the Ottoman Turks and the Barbary Corsairs. During World War II it served as Company Head Quarters for E Company, of the 1st. Battalion, Kings Own Malta Regiment and was spared damage from enemy attack though a number of bombs were dropped in its vicinity.
Up to some 14 years ago it was used as a watch tower and radar station by the Armed Forces of Malta. It was subsequently granted to Din l-Art Helwa under a guardianship agreement and was extensively restored thanks to the sponsorship of the Demajo Group of Companies.
The gun mounting operation will take place from 9am onwards.