This 17th century Gozitan coastal custodian was restored to the nation by Din l-Art Helwa.
Dwejra Tower, also known as the Qawra Tower, is situated in the far west of the island off the road leading to the small enclosed bay known as the Inland Sea. Within the confines of the quaint and charming village of San Lawrenz, the tower commands wonderful views of the Azure Window and Fungus Rock (also known as il-Blata tal-General). The surrounding area has also been designated as an international scientific interest.
Dwejra Tower was completed in 1652 during the time of Grand Master Jean Paul Lascaris Castellar. Its construction was funded by the Universita` of Gozo, in other words, by the people of Gozo themselves. To man the tower, the salary of a bombardier, or Capo Mastro, was also paid by the same Universita`. He was in charge of the tower and raised money to cover expenses by producing salt from the salt pans in front of the tower. As part of the Knight’s coastal defences, the costs of its armaments were borne by the Order.
In 1744 Grand Master Pinto had the sides of Fungus Rock, home of the fabled fungus with special medicinal powers, smoothed over to make access more difficult. Although additional trenches, redoubts and defensive mounds were later added to consolidate the defence of the rugged Dwejra area, the tower is the only survivor.
The tower measures 12 metres square at the base. Its walls are 3.5m thick and consist of two courses of limestone filled with rubble. The lowest five courses form a podium for the walls which incline inwards. The first floor is a guardroom from where a flight of steps leads to the roof where the powder store was.
The tower was still in use during the eighteenth century when it was equipped with three six-pounder guns and two swivel guns. It was manned by the Royal Malta Fencible Artillery between 1839 and 1873 but then abandoned. During the summer of 1914 Maltese troops from the King’s Own Malta Regiment and the Royal Malta Artillery were dispatched to the coastal watch towers and Dwejra Tower was manned by No 3 Company with two, later four, 12-pounder guns.
During the Second World War the tower was used as an Observation Post. One recorded incident was the crash of a Royal Air Force Spitfire in Dwejra Bay on 18 April 1942. The pilot was rescued by Captain Frank Debono and Carmelo Zahra of Victoria who was on duty in the tower.
In 1956, the Tower was leased to Mr Gerald de Trafford for a period of 50 years.
Passed on loan to Din l-Art Helwa, restoration work commenced in August 1997 and was completed two years later. A considerable amount of eroded stone of the outer courses had to be replaced and the walls re-pointed. The cistern was repaired and cleared of rubble. Pipe-work from the roof to this cistern was replaced. The steps leading to the basement were rebuilt and flagstones were laid as necessary. Security grills were fitted to the windows. Restoration was generously sponsored by Galdes & Mamo as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.
The 1990 Structure Plan for the Maltese Islands designated the Dwejra Tower area, including the Inland Sea and Dwejra Bay, as a site of potential international scientific importance because of the complex of features of historical, geomorphological, geological, archeological, ecological, and aesthetic interest.
Din l-Art Helwa is trying to increase membership for more support. Be a guardian of Malta’s heritage by becoming a member. For more details send an e-mail to [email protected] indicating your name and forwarding address, or visit the website www.dinlarthelwa.org.
Mr Rizzo is the treasurer of Din l-Art Helwa
Photos by Joseph Chetcuti