Ximenes Redoubt

Ximenes Redoubt
Ridott ta' Ximenes
Naxxar, Malta

View of Ximenes Redoubt

Map of Ximenes Redoubt including its warehouses
Coordinates 35°56′52.4″N 14°25′32.7″E / 35.947889°N 14.425750°E / 35.947889; 14.425750
Type Redoubt
Site information
Owner Government of Malta
Controlled by MRRA
Condition Intact
Site history
Built 1715–1716
Built by Order of Saint John
Materials Limestone

Ximenes Redoubt (Maltese: Ridott ta' Ximenes) is a redoubt in Salina Bay, Naxxar, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1715-1716 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands, and it was originally called Salina Right Redoubt. Two warehouses were grafted on the redoubt in the second half of the 18th century so as to store salt from nearby salt pans. It was eventually renamed after Grand Master Francisco Ximenes de Texada, whose coat of arms can be seen on one of the warehouses. The redoubt and warehouses have been recently restored.

History

Ximenes Redoubt eventually became a warehouse storing salt from the nearby Salina salt pans
Redoubt entrance

Salina Right Redoubt was built between 1715 and 1716 as part of the Order of Saint John's first building program of coastal fortifications. It was one of two redoubts defending Salina Bay. The redoubt on the other side of the bay, known as Perellos Redoubt, was demolished after World War II.[1]

The redoubt was unique in Malta, as it was the only one which consisted of just a polygonal enclosure with a high parapet wall designed to protect infantrymen. It did not have a blockhouse, which was a feature found in most other redoubts in the Maltese islands. Since it was a small work, it only cost 316 scudi, 9 tari, 10 grani and 2 piccoli to build, which was less than one third the cost of an average redoubt.

After 1741, two fougasses were built, one within the redoubt and another just outside its wall. One of the fougasses still survives today, and it is among the best preserved ones to be found in Malta.

In about 1750, a large building was grafted onto the redoubt. It served as both a magazine and a warehouse, to serve as storage space for salt from the nearby salt pans at Salina. A second warehouse was built in the 1770s, during the reign of Grand Master Francisco Ximenes de Texada. The new warehouse had a large escutcheon with Ximenes' coat of arms above the doorway, and the redoubt became known as the Ximenes Redoubt.

The redoubt did not have any armament, equipment or munitions in 1785.[2]

Present day

Today, the redoubt lies on the Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq–Salina coast road, and it is overshadowed by the Coastline Hotel. The redoubt as well as the nearby salt pans were restored between 2011 and 2013.[3]

In 2013, the redoubt was vandalized when graffiti was sprayed on one of its walls. This has since been removed.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Pullicino, George (28 February 2011). "Adding salt to the pans". Times of Malta. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Spiteri, Stephen C. (7 September 2012). "Restoring Ximenes Redoubt". MilitaryArchitecture.com. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Salini rehabilitation project on schedule". Times of Malta. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Ximenes redoubt vandalised". TVM. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
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