Din l-Art Ħelwa and Din l-Art Ħelwa Għawdex have clarified that the recent collapse at Qolla l-Bajda Battery in Marsalforn involved an illegally constructed concrete roof, not part of the original Knights-era fortification, as they outlined plans to restore the Grade 1 scheduled building to its original form.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisations said a detailed survey of the battery's interior and exterior was carried out on 21 March 2026. Comparing the current state of the site with photographs from the 1960s, before the battery was converted into a discotheque and later a restaurant, the NGOs said it was "obvious" that the structure had suffered extensive damage due to illegal alterations.
They referred to an enforcement case opened in 1999, which remains active, involving unauthorised works within the scheduled property. The case cites an upper-floor extension, concrete block construction, rendering and pointing of walls, removal of paving at ground-floor level, and other works carried out without a permit.
According to Din l-Art Ħelwa's survey, much of the battery's original interior was destroyed and replaced with modern materials, including reinforced and prestressed concrete slabs and beams. The original stone ceilings of the two blockhouses were removed and replaced with concrete beams, while more than half of the gun platform was destroyed and rebuilt around one metre higher than its original level. The NGOs said a large area beneath this new platform had been excavated, likely destroying a water reservoir in the process.
Other changes included the widening and raising of the original entrance doorway, subdivision of the west blockhouse into smaller rooms and toilets, and alterations to the gun emplacements, with some blocked up and turned into windows and others reduced in height.
The organisations said the roof collapse appears to have occurred between Good Friday and Saturday 4 April. Visitors on Friday reportedly did not notice any damage, while others on Saturday afternoon observed the collapse. Photos were sent to Din l-Art Ħelwa on Saturday night, and after confirming the damage on Easter Sunday morning, the police were informed and the area was cordoned off.
Din l-Art Ħelwa stressed that the collapsed section was part of the illegal west-side concrete platform added by the lessee, and not part of the original structure built by the Knights of St John. It said the slab was made of prestressed concrete and likely failed suddenly after internal steel cables corroded and snapped.
The site has been described as dangerous and unstable, with the NGOs warning the public not to enter the building or even visit the salt pans directly below it.
Once the guardianship deed is signed with the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, Din l-Art Ħelwa Għawdex intends to remove all illegal accretions and restore the battery as closely as possible to its original design. The project documentation is being finalised, though the collapse has required revisions. Despite the complexity and cost, the NGOs said sponsors have already come forward and expressed confidence that the battery can be returned to its former splendour.