Qolla l-Bajda Battery

InUncategorized
October 01, 2013

by Petra Caruana Dingli

The Times of Malta reports that graffiti has been scrawled on the walls of an 18th-century coastal battery at Qbajjar in Gozo.

In its print version today, the Times describes it as ‘Santa Maria Battery’, although I know it as ‘Qolla l-Bajda Battery’. It was built in 1715-16 by the Knights of St John. It has been abandoned for years and is in desperate need of restoration.

I hope the mess is removed quickly. The local council has already said it is not responsible for the clean up and that it is the responsibility of “third parties”. Well, these third parties don’t seem to care much about the Battery – just look at the state it is in.

In the ‘80s it was being used as a discotheque – I remember going there once when I was a teenager – and various extensions were added on at the back. That was when the battery was seriously damaged, more than this week’s graffiti.

According to the Times, the Gozo Tourism Authority has stated that such acts of vandalism on Gozo’s “historical heritage” tarnish the island’s reputation. But what is more important is that the whole site needs restoration. I understand that this is not always straightforward for many complex reasons, but action needs to be taken on this property. The pictures above were taken about five years ago.

If the battery continues to be abandoned, more damage is sure to follow.

petracdingli@gmail.com

5 Comments

W. du Tine

05/10/2013 at 11:27 am

I wonder if there aren’t any people around who would love to make this property their home, thus preserving it for and (sometimes) opening it to the public?
Yvonne Bonello

04/10/2013 at 10:02 pm

I totally agree with Simone Mizzi that this site should be the responsibility of the Gozitans
Stanley Parker

04/10/2013 at 8:54 am

I wonder if Wirt Ghawdex could use its influence with the Gozitan authorities to help?
Nino Xerri

04/10/2013 at 7:44 am

I visited this site July of this year and there was no sign of any graffiti on the battery. I will post my image direct to George as there does not seem a way to post the image here.
simone mizzi

01/10/2013 at 6:55 pm

It is tragic that there is still no love for heritage sites from some individuals. Din l-Art Helwa has asked government to allow the organization to restore and look after the Qbajjar battery for many years but there was a problem with the lease. This is still under discussion and is a subject of court action. The battery is now in a shameful state and the graffiti has made it worse. We do hope that Gozo authorities and the Culture ministry will see to it as soon as possible. Security measures should be taken to ward off vandals at heritage sites.

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Petra Caruana Dingli

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W. du Tine

Yvonne Bonello

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Nino Xerri

simone mizzi

Din l-ArtĦelwa

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