The Coastal Watch Tower at Wied iz Zurrieq known as it Torri ta Xutu was given a good clean out this week when a group of Din l-Art Helwa volunteers led by Stanley Farrugia Randon and Qrendi Local Council.
Mayor David Schembri went into action together with Qrendi Scouts to throw out decades of debris that had accumulated within this heritage site. Old beds, mattresses, rusty pipes, decaying apertures found their way into a skip and the area round the tower was also cleared.
The Tower was the last to be built during the reign of Grand Master Lascaris de Castellard and it was important as a prototype for the ones to be built by his successor, Grand Master de Redin. Under British rule, the Xutu tower was manned by the Royal Malta Fencible Regiment later the Royal Malta Fencible Artillery.
In 1873, the latter gave up its coastal guard commitments and the site was abandoned. During World War II, the tower was used as a Coast Observation Post and was manned by the Coast Police.
With the advent of the airplane, the coastal fortifications round the islands became redundant. The Wied iz-Zurrieq tower also lost its military role but was used a Police station till the year 2002.
Din l-Art Helwa had appealed to the Government about the state of the tower which occupies a dominant position within a highly popular visitors’ area and is in a Natura 2000 site.
The heritage NGO was last year awarded the Wied iz- Zurrieq tower in guardianship for its management and restoration.
The project has met with MEPA approval and is soon to commence. Wied iz-Zurrieq Tower commands spectacular views over the cliffs to Filfla and when its restoration is complete it will be part of a heritage trail in the southern area of Malta and serve as an information point to visitors.
Photo from left to right: Albert Calleja, Romina and Stanley Farrugia Randon and their son Robert, Qrendi Mayor David Scembri, Ian Camilleri, Kurt Zammit, Ryan Magro, Julia Camilleri and the pooch.