Two gun carriages have been placed at the Barrakka saluting battery, having been reconstructed to a 130-year-old design. 

The timber carriages were introduced in Malta by the Royal Artillery for the mounting of cannons and were in use between the 1830s and the 1890s. 

At the Saluting Battery, they commanded a 180° view of the Grand Harbour thanks to their ability to swing around on iron rails. The guns were originally 32-pounder smooth-bore muzzle loaders which were later converted into 64-pounder rifle guns.

The reconstruction of the carriages was handled by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna and sponsored by HSBC Malta Foundation.

Mario Farrugia, chairman of Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, said the rotating traversing carriages were an important part of an army’s arsenal in the late 18th century Europe. Their use in Malta was introduced by the British in the first half of the 19th century and they went on to be used until the 1890s.”

“Unfortunately, after the 1890s, these carriages were relegated to history and not one example was retained for posterity. Thanks to the commitment of HSBC Malta Foundation, the reconstructed carriages are the first authentic example to be returned to Malta’s historic fortifications after an absence of some 130 years."

The carriages were typically made from two parts – a lower part known as the traversing platform and an upper part known as the sliding carriage. The latter was designed to slide into the platform with each firing of the gun before being hauled back with the help of block and tackle and lots of elbow grease for loading.