Aħrax Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aħrax Tower & Battery |
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| Torri u Batterija tal-Aħrax | |
| Part of the De Redin towers | |
| Mellieħa, Malta | |
Aħrax Tower
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| Coordinates | 35°59′43.7″N 14°21′52.2″E / 35.995472°N 14.364500°E |
| Type | Coastal watchtower Artillery battery |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Malta |
| Controlled by | Mellieħa Local Council - Din l-Art Ħelwa (10 year loan) |
| Condition | Intact |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1658 (tower) 1715 (battery) |
| Built by | Order of Saint John |
| Materials | Limestone |
Aħrax Tower (which in Maltese is Torri tal-Aħrax) is also known by other names like Armier Tower or the White Tower. It is a small watchtower that looks over Armier Bay in Mellieħa, Malta. It was built in 1658. This tower was the sixth in a series of towers called the De Redin towers.
Later, in 1715, a special area for cannons, called an artillery battery, was built around the tower. Today, both the tower and the battery are still standing. After three years of careful restoration work, the tower was opened again to visitors on June 9, 2021. Aħrax Tower is the most northern fort on the main island of Malta.
History of Aħrax Tower
Aħrax Tower was finished by November 1658. It was built in an area known as "l-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa". Building the tower cost 589 scudi, which was a type of money used back then.
The tower looks similar to the other De Redin towers. It has a square base and two floors. However, the base of Aħrax Tower is a bit bigger than some of the other towers. There used to be a special shield with a coat of arms (a family symbol) above the main door. This symbol belonged to De Redin, who ordered the tower to be built. It is not there anymore. Just like with Għajn Ħadid Tower, there was a well near Aħrax Tower. This well provided water for the soldiers stationed there.
In 1715, an artillery battery was built around the tower. It was named Batteria della Harach. This battery had a curved platform for cannons. It also had a small building called a blockhouse, which was built on the tower's western side. Two walls connected the tower to the cannon platform. A ditch carved into the rock surrounded the battery for extra protection.
In 1743, an inspection showed that Aħrax Tower had two bronze cannons. It also had cannonballs, muskets (old guns), and gunpowder. Thirty years later, in 1770, the battery had ten iron cannons. The gunpowder for these cannons was kept safely in Saint Agatha's Tower.
In the 1800s, the British used the tower as a naval station. They added several rooms to the tower. At one point, it was even used as the summer home for the Governor. A British coat of arms replaced the original De Redin symbol. After World War II, the tower was privately owned. However, it was eventually left empty and uncared for.
Aħrax Tower Today
The area around the tower is now covered with concrete. The foundations of some of the battery walls have not been dug up yet. Over the years, Aħrax Tower was changed a lot. This makes it hard to tell which parts are original and which were added later. The battery itself is mostly still there, except for one of the connecting walls. In 2009, the tower was given to the Mellieħa Local Council.
In November 2016, the tower was given to a group called Din l-Art Ħelwa. This group works to protect old buildings. They received the tower for a 10-year period. Their goal was to fix, restore, and make the building useful again. The restoration work was finished in June 2021. The tower was then reopened to the public so people could learn about its history.
See also
In Spanish: Torre Ahrax para niños
