Tal-Wejter Tower (Maltese: Torri tal-Wejter - It-Torri Wejter) is a tower in Birkirkara, Malta, which was built in the early 18th century by the Order of Saint John.[2] It is also known locally as it-Torri tal-Misħun (English: Boiling Water Tower), a reference to its machicolations which are known as galleriji tal-misħun in Maltese.[3] The tower was partially demolished in the 1960s, but it was later rebuilt. Today, it is in a rather dilapidated state.[4]
The area where the tower is found was known as Għassiewi, meaning guarded place.[5] Till the late 20th century, the community was known as Tal-Wejter.[6] The nearby valley was known as Tal-Wejter Valley.[7][8]
Tal-Wejter Tower was commissioned by Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful, and it was built in the early 18th century. The tower stood on the road leading from San Ġwann and St. Julian's to Birkirkara. This area is now built up and the tower is surrounded by modern buildings.[9]
The tower was built to watch over the inland areas in the surrounding region of Birkirkara and to bridge the site of the Birkirkara Tower and Floriana. The project took place on the recommendations by Captain Foulet and Commander D'Argens, who were French knights of the Order of St. John.[10]
Part of the tower was illegally demolished in 1968, but it was later rebuilt. Today, the tower is still intact but it is deteriorating and it is feared that it might collapse.[11] The building is privately owned,[3] and it is currently for sale.[12] It was scheduled as a Grade 2 national monument by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority in 2012.[13][14][15]
Architectureedit
Western corner of the tower, with two machicolations visible
Tal-Wejter Tower was originally a two-story high tower with a high parapet wall at roof level.[14] After being partially dismantled and rebuilt, a ceiling was added to the high wall and it now has three floors.[12]
It has a square base,[14] with a room on each of the three floors.[16][12] The upper floor is separated by a moulded string course. Each façade of the tower originally had box machicolations. The entrance to the tower is through an arched doorway built in the medieval style.[9] The building is now engulfed between later built housing residences.[17] It is privately owned.[18]
^Grech, Etienne (2019). . Perry - Estates Agents Since 1981. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020.
^Darke, Diana (2020). Stealing from the Saracens: How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe. Oxford University Press. p. 265. ISBN9781787383050.
^ ab"Dibattiti tal-Kamra tad-Deputati (Rapport Uffiċjali u Rivedut) – Il-Ħdax-il Parlament – Seduta Nru. 170" (in Maltese). Parliament of Malta. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
^Micallef, Sarah (2020). "Ever dreamt of owning a tower built by the Knights of St John? Well, now's your chance!". www.guidememalta.com.
^Luttrell, Anthony T. (1975). Medieval Malta. London The British School at Rome. pp. 183–213. ISBN9780904152029. OCLC 248868305.
^Sammut, A. M. (2014). "Il-Franġiskani tal-Wejter: Mill-maħżen għall-Knisja - Festa Sant'Antnin, Birkirkara" (PDF). Soċjetà Mużikali Sant'Antnin (in Maltese): 45–47.
^"Reports on the Working of Government Departments". Department of Information. 1975. p. 95.
^"Reports on the Working of Government Departments for the Year". Malta Information Division. 1978. p. 95, 104.
^ ab. Times of Malta. 23 February 2012. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
^Guillaumier, Alfie (2002). Bliet u Rħula Maltin, Second Volume (in Maltese). Klabb Kotba Maltin. p. 85. ISBN99932-39-16-X.
^Azzopardi, Silvio (1 October 2008). The Malta Independent. Archived from the original on 17 December 2015.
^ abc. Frank Salt Real Estate Ltd. Archived from the original on 21 June 2016.
^. MEPA. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014.
^ abc. Times of Malta. 31 January 2012. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015.
^"22 Historical properties scheduled". The Malta Independent. 12 January 2012.
^Engel & Völgels (9 July 2021). . MaltaPark. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021.
^Attard, Antoine (8 July 2019). (PDF) (in Maltese). p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2020.
Media related to Tal-Wejter Tower at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
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Tal Wejter Tower Maltese Torri tal Wejter It Torri Wejter is a tower in Birkirkara Malta which was built in the early 18th century by the Order of Saint John 2 It is also known locally as it Torri tal Misħun English Boiling Water Tower a reference to its machicolations which are known as galleriji tal misħun in Maltese 3 The tower was partially demolished in the 1960s but it was later rebuilt Today it is in a rather dilapidated state 4 Tal Wejter TowerTorri tal WejterBirkirkara MaltaView of Tal Wejter Tower with original dismantled stones at the bottomCoordinates35 53 49 8 N 14 28 1 9 E 35 897167 N 14 467194 E 35 897167 14 467194TypeTowerSite informationOwnerPrivateOpen tothe publicNoConditionIntact but dilapidatedSite historyBuilt1710 1 Built byOrder of Saint JohnMaterialsLimestone Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory edit nbsp Entrance to the tower The area where the tower is found was known as Għassiewi meaning guarded place 5 Till the late 20th century the community was known as Tal Wejter 6 The nearby valley was known as Tal Wejter Valley 7 8 Tal Wejter Tower was commissioned by Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful and it was built in the early 18th century The tower stood on the road leading from San Ġwann and St Julian s to Birkirkara This area is now built up and the tower is surrounded by modern buildings 9 The tower was built to watch over the inland areas in the surrounding region of Birkirkara and to bridge the site of the Birkirkara Tower and Floriana The project took place on the recommendations by Captain Foulet and Commander D Argens who were French knights of the Order of St John 10 Part of the tower was illegally demolished in 1968 but it was later rebuilt Today the tower is still intact but it is deteriorating and it is feared that it might collapse 11 The building is privately owned 3 and it is currently for sale 12 It was scheduled as a Grade 2 national monument by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority in 2012 13 14 15 Architecture edit nbsp Western corner of the tower with two machicolations visible Tal Wejter Tower was originally a two story high tower with a high parapet wall at roof level 14 After being partially dismantled and rebuilt a ceiling was added to the high wall and it now has three floors 12 It has a square base 14 with a room on each of the three floors 16 12 The upper floor is separated by a moulded string course Each facade of the tower originally had box machicolations The entrance to the tower is through an arched doorway built in the medieval style 9 The building is now engulfed between later built housing residences 17 It is privately owned 18 See also editBirkirkara TowerReferences edit Grech Etienne 2019 Birkirkara House of Character Perry Estates Agents Since 1981 Archived from the original on 21 January 2020 Darke Diana 2020 Stealing from the Saracens How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe Oxford University Press p 265 ISBN 9781787383050 a b Dibattiti tal Kamra tad Deputati Rapport Uffiċjali u Rivedut Il Ħdax il Parlament Seduta Nru 170 in Maltese Parliament of Malta 24 November 2009 Retrieved 27 March 2016 Micallef Sarah 2020 Ever dreamt of owning a tower built by the Knights of St John Well now s your chance www guidememalta com Luttrell Anthony T 1975 Medieval Malta London The British School at Rome pp 183 213 ISBN 9780904152029 OCLC 248868305 Sammut A M 2014 Il Franġiskani tal Wejter Mill maħzen għall Knisja Festa Sant Antnin Birkirkara PDF Soċjeta Muzikali Sant Antnin in Maltese 45 47 Reports on the Working of Government Departments Department of Information 1975 p 95 Reports on the Working of Government Departments for the Year Malta Information Division 1978 p 95 104 a b Tal Wejter Tower Times of Malta 23 February 2012 Archived from the original on 1 June 2015 Guillaumier Alfie 2002 Bliet u Rħula Maltin Second Volume in Maltese Klabb Kotba Maltin p 85 ISBN 99932 39 16 X Azzopardi Silvio 1 October 2008 Two Historical gems that could be no more The Malta Independent Archived from the original on 17 December 2015 a b c Birkirkara Unconverted Tower Frank Salt Real Estate Ltd Archived from the original on 21 June 2016 Protection granted to a further 29 buildings and sites MEPA Archived from the original on 3 September 2014 a b c Mepa schedules a range of properties Times of Malta 31 January 2012 Archived from the original on 20 November 2015 22 Historical properties scheduled The Malta Independent 12 January 2012 Engel amp Volgels 9 July 2021 Unique Torri in B Kara MaltaPark Archived from the original on 29 July 2021 It torri Wejter illum imdawwar bil bini Ritratt mehud mill arkivji taghna Archived from the original on 2020 02 14 Attard Antoine 8 July 2019 Minuti tal Kunsill Lokali Birkirkara PDF in Maltese p 2 Archived from the original PDF on 15 June 2020 nbsp Media related to Tal Wejter Tower at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tal Wejter Tower amp oldid 1220996364, wikipedia, 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