Malta is a living museum. All around us are landmarks and symbols that bear witness to the island's rich and singular past. These buildings, churches and fortifications are concrete proof of the intricate web of history so delicately woven over thousands of years. Above all, they are physical evidence of what truly has shaped the Maltese over such a long period of time.
Despite all this, I feel that as a nation we still lack the essential appreciation of all this wonderful architecture that surrounds us. I was inspired by all this just a few days ago when visiting Fort Rinella in Kalkara with a group of friends and their children. At the fort I reflected on the fact that, while foreigners travel thousands of miles to enjoy these spectacles, one is quickly reminded of the absence of Maltese visitors. In the days that followed I asked many people about Rinella and quickly realised the dearth of knowledge and understanding we generally have about such places.
This raises a simple question. Why are not visits to such historical sites a part of each family's calendar? For an island of such tiny proportions, distance is surely not a relevant excuse. Why have we relinquished the obligation of visiting historical sites to our schools when these trips could be an exciting experience shared by the whole family? It is very difficult for me to paint you the wonderful picture of the beaming faces of the children who were visiting Fort Rinella on this Saturday morning, immersed as they were in a two-hour long journey into the past. Not only is Fort Rinella a unique structure, it is a living experience complete with re-enactments and a truly interactive event.
The fort is built on a site on the shore of Kalkara. It was completed in 1887 by the British forces as a coastal defence. Fort Rinella is truly a fine example of British military engineering and evidence of the cutting edge technology of the time. Two features make it a particular structure.
First of all, it was the first mechanised fort ever built and houses a monstrous 100-ton cannon known as an Armstrong after its builder William Armstrong. This terrible weapon could shoot a one-ton projectile over an eight-mile distance and pierce a 21-inch sheet of steel! Another interesting fact is that the expense for firing this gun was equal to the daily wages of 2,700 servicemen.
Along with Rinella, a similar fort was built in Tigné, known as Fort Cambridge. Together, these forts guarded the entry into the Grand Harbour. The fate of Fort Cambridge was not so lucky. The cannon housed there was sold as scrap in the 1950s and the fort was next to abandoned and it is only recently that it appears that the remains of the structure will be restored.
For many years, Rinella was abandoned and in a derelict state. In 1991, the government handed over the fort to Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, a non-profit organisation that must surely be one of Malta's pioneers in restoring a much-needed awareness of the sorry state of buildings so ineptly and inelegantly abandoned, especially in the post-war period and after the departure of the British forces in the late 1970s. The job carried out by FWA on Fort Rinella is nothing but spectacular. Not only has the building been expertly cleaned and restored to its former dignity; FWA has managed to breathe life into it. This has been achieved by the dedication and continuous support of volunteers who daily bring the fort to life with their detailed re-enactments complete with military uniforms, arms and the inimitable pitched barks of the commanding officer and severe clicking of boots!
It is now almost 20 years since the beginning of this ambitious project and the work carried out on the building can be felt all around the place. Apart from the detail of the restoration, the fort is spotlessly clean as befits such a military building.
I am sure many have contributed to this project yet one person stands out in particular. This is none other than Mario Farrugia, who is not only a founder of FWA but is also one of the earliest promoters of Malta's rich British heritage.
Along with a dedicated board of trustees and an army of volunteers, FWA maintains a number of sites dotted around Malta, delivering a pleasurable historical experience to the locals and the tourists who visit. Furthermore, it is amazing that the organisation builds on its own strengths and funds most of its projects itself. No mean feat when one considers the expenses involved in keeping such set-ups alive and well.
It seems that there is still more in store for Fort Rinella. FWA has embarked on an ambitious project of restoring the cannon to its mechanised state at a cost of about €400,000. This, I am sure will not be easy. I wish them the best of luck and am confident that their aim will be ultimately achieved.
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