“Every nation looks back in the past for its history, culture and architectural remains. Gozo enjoys only two fortifications/castles which take us back in time.

These are the Citadel in Victoria, which one has to say was restored to its former grandeur by the two administrations. The Citadel nowadays is looked upon with pride by the Gozitans. Fort Chambray, however is another matter.

When our Government was initially discussing Malta’s accession within the European Union, monuments and fortifications were discussed and many agreed upon for restoration. It appears though that two of our only former forts were left out of the equilibrium. These were Fort Chambray and Fort Ricasoli.

The Hon Glynn Belingfield has been justly pressing to have Fort Rikasoli included for restoration works and rightly so, whilst on my part I have been pressing for the restoration of Fort Chambray on parts owned and under the Government’s protection.Chambray Historical Past.

For persons to appreciate our past history one has to get to know it. The Chambray noble family crossed over to Malta from Burgundy in 1700 when Jacques was just 13 years old. Jacques entered the Knights Order Navy and was very efficient, becoming the Captain of a Galley.

Chambray asked permission from the Grand Master to go after the Turkish Gallows, which literally meant becoming licensed for Privateering. During his first voyage in 1749 he managed to capture one of the largest and richest Galleys of the Turkish Fleet, named the “Sultan.” This Galley carried great wealth and also the Sultans Harem. Chambray refused to accept the Sultans ransom for the Harem and sold these individually.

Chambray gave the Grandmaster his share and as at that time the Order wanted a fortification in Mgarr, Gozo, to protect the Port, Chambray with his enormous new riches volunteered to build this fort himself.

Jacques Chambray died in 1756 during the fortification building but left monies with the Grand Master to continue the project. As the Turkish Fleet had started to diminish by this time, the Grand Master reduced the size of the Fortifications to as it is at the present time. Chambray Fort was later used as a British Military Barracks in World War One. Later as a hospital for mental health and respiratory illnesses.

Chambray in Private Hands.

Chambray Fort with 99 Tumoli of prime land was passed to private hands, and the contract was exploited, sold and resold from one contractor to another. These exploitations were stopped when a Gozitan took over the all the shares and managed to make something remarkable of the inner Chambray.

It is a pity that previously the cemetery, which has several Military Personnel buried in it, was destroyed, even after I had personally bought this to the attention of the responsible Minister in Parliament.

All to no avail as a contractor came in on a Saturday when no Governmental Officer was on duty and simply wiped out this marvellous cemetery with a bulldozer.The Government though kept under its protection the Bastions Walls, the Knights Hall and the “Pulverista.” There is also something else which at the moment escapes me.

Walls/Polverista Crumbling Down.

We Gozitans simply cannot allow this fortification with its past and present history to continue to crumble and come down. Past and present Administrations have performed miracles with other monument restorations.

So why leave this one out? Why let these crumble and fall? The pictures that I am posting show the dire state of both the Bastion Walls and the Polverista. (Photos taken by myself).

Whilst I always had sympathetic ears listening to my recommendations, no actions were taken. I believe that if no immediate action is taken, Gozo will lose one of its major monuments. Shame.

Trunciera in Zewwieqa.On the other side of Mgarr is the Zewwieqa Area. In this site in 1760, a certain Bourlamaque was ordered by the Grand Master to build a “Trunciera” at Zewwieqa with 2 Fugases, so that the Mgarr Port could be protected from both sides. Chambray Fort and the “Trunciera” at Zewwieqa.

During the period that the Hon Justyne Caruana was in charge of the Gozo Ministry, several talks – suggestions were passed onto her Ministry about both the Trunciera and Chambray. (Leaving out many other places in these discussions). Progress was being made quite quickly regarding the “Trunciera” restoration.

Just imagine if the “Trunciera” was renovated and after have “dimming lights” installed, all passengers entering into Mgarr Port would be able to visualise Mgarr as if in a magical fairytale scene, Gozo’s point lit from both sides.

It would be just a heavenly picture. So I do urge the present Authorities to take immediate action so that we Gozitans can preserve our historical past, within the present and for the future

Lino DeBono,

Gozo.

Photos first 3 supplied by author: The Polverista from outside. 2nd the Polcerista floor from inside. 3rd How the outer wall is separating; and The Trunciera in Zewwieqa (photo taken by Mr Daniel Cilia)

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