Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg handed over the ancient key and ownership of Fort Delimara to Heritage Malta chairman Mario Tabone yesterday.

In an official ceremony at Fort Delimara, Marsaxlokk, Dr Borg said: “We are fortunate that jewels such as Fort Delimara are common in Malta, and it is important that Malta’s history is preserved for this and future generations.”

He added: “It is the Government’s policy to keep handing over such properties to local councils for Malta’s communities and its tourists to enjoy.”

Fort Delimara was built between 1876 and 1888, with the main door carved in 1881, and was used to guard the entrance to Marsaxlokk Bay. However, in 1975 the government gave the then disused fort to a local farmer who reared pigs in it for 15 years.

Amazingly, despite animals doing what animals do best in the fort, damage has been minimal over the years. Four of the original 14 rare Victorian cannons still remain and the long shaft, which would have been used to pass supplies from boats in the harbour up inside the fort, also remains intact and unharmed

Over the next few years Heritage Malta will remove the abandoned and broken tractors, cement mixers and bathtubs which currently clutter the site, replacing them with authentic surroundings and restoring the fort to its original state.

Dr Tabone said: “Fort Delimara is important in the history of Malta and it is a momentous occasion for it to be passed into the ownership of Heritage Malta. We have a team of experts ready to study the historical importance of the fort and we hope it will be open to the public in a few years.”

Heritage Malta is involved in the restoration of many projects on the Maltese islands.