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Fort Mellieħa

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Fort Mellieħa
Il-Fortizza tal-Mellieħa
Mellieħa, Malta
Coordinates35°57′19.3″N 14°21′55″E / 35.955361°N 14.36528°E / 35.955361; 14.36528
TypeFort
Site information
OwnerGovernment of Malta
Controlled byMellieħa Scout Group
ConditionIntact
Site history
Built1940s
Built byBritish Empire
Battles/warsWorld War II

Fort Mellieħa or Mellieħa Fort (Maltese: Il-Fortizza tal-Mellieħa), also known as Il-Fortizza tas-Salib (meaning Fort of the Cross),[1] is a World War II-era fort in Mellieħa, Malta. It was built by the British on top of Mellieħa Hill, to serve as a civil defence depot and an observation post.[2] The structure is lightly fortified by a perimeter wall.[3]

The fort is now surrounded by residential buildings. Lack of upkeep had affected the structure when, on December 28 1991, the Lands Department leased it to the Mellieħa Scout Group, who restored the building, and now use it as their headquarters. It is the largest scouts headquarters in Malta, and includes kitchens, dormitories, a campsite and underground shelters.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Camilleri, Alex (2011). "It-Toponomastika ta' Malta: Il-Mellieħa u Madwarha" (PDF). L-Imnara (in Maltese). 9 (4). Għaqda tal-Folklor: 195. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2016.
  2. ^ Muscat, Jimmy (14 March 2012). "Mellieħa - An introduction to a destination for all seasons". mellieha.gov.mt. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015.
  3. ^ Spiteri, Stephen C. (2004–2007). "A general overview of the fortifications in the locality of Mellieha" (PDF). Arx – Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (1–4): 44. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Mellieha Scout Group". mellieha.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013.