Visit to Dwejra Lines

Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna is organising a guided the Dwejra Lines and Kuncizzjoni Strong Point in the limits of Mgarr today between 2 and 5 p.m.. The tour will focus on the military architecture and history of the two sites.

The Dwejra Lines were built by the British in the latter half of the 19th century. Despite being called 'lines' this defensive work was more of a large-scale entrenchment meant to defend an area within the Victoria Lines that was deemed too weak to protect by a simple escarpment.

The Victoria Lines is a major defensive line that runs the full breadth of Malta. It was built to seal-off the rear approaches of the Grand Harbour and the Dockyard. Work on the Victoria Lines had started in 1874 and went on till the end of the century.

The Victoria Lines consist of four principal forts, a number of artillery positions and batteries and a continuous Infantry line. It is some 12 km long starting at Bahar ic-Caghaq on the northeast coast of the island and ending at Kuncizzjoni/Fomm ir-Rih on the northwest. It follows the natural escarpment that cuts Malta in half from coast to coast.

The Dwejra Lines consist of a continuous enceinte measuring some one kilometre. It is positioned between Falka and Bingemma Gaps, on the crest of Dwejra Hill. It is provided with a deep rock-cut dry ditch on its front which in turn was defended by caponiers and scarp-galleries. The trace of the line is serrated having six dents that project into the ditch. Each of these is formed by a scarp-gallery that was reached into from the back of the line. The line is partly excavated into the live rock and partly built-up using earthen mounds supported by drystone riveting. Numerous Traverses were positioned at intervals at the back of the wall to offer protection against enfilade fire.

The Kuncizzjoni Defence Electric Light position is a small defensible redoubt built at the northeast extremity of the Victoria Lines. It consists of underground bombproof garrison accommodation, engine room, caponier-like musketry gallery and a Defence Electrical Light emplacement. The latter was used to light up the coast in case of an invasion or a naval attack.

The tour will be conducted in English by FWA chairman Mario Farrugia. Anyone interested to join in should be in front of the Le Meridien Phoenicia in Floriana at 1.30 p.m. Transport will be available at a charge of Lm1.50 to non-members (members Lm1). It is advisable that strong shoes ar worn.

Further details from the FWA Website www.wirtartna.org or by calling 2180-0992 or 9987-4153.