Ghajn Hadid Tower

The Ghajn Hadid Tower is a fortification built during the reign of St John in 1658 in Malta. The tower stands on the Ghajn Hadid Cliffs on the L - tal- Mellieha Ahrax said section of the north coast of the island of Malta. He supervised access to Mellieha Bay, and the Gozo Channel.

The tower was the first of a series of thirteen towers that have been built during the reign of Grand Master Martin de Redin 1657-1660. According to him, these towers are also referred to as de Redin Towers. In comparison to the 1609 to 1614 built Wignacourt Towers, the task of these towers had changed. Built much smaller and weaker armed, they served primarily as an observation post, from which on the approach of an enemy fleet, the garrison should be alerted in Valletta and other places. For this, the towers were arranged together with the Wignancourt Towers and the Lascaris Towers on visible to one another, so that day and night optical signals could be transmitted.

Like all the other de Redin Towers, the Ghajn Hadid Tower has a square floor plan. The page length is approximately 8.1 m. The tower had two stories. In the basement there was a large, windowless storage room. Access to this room was at ground level.

During the British colonial rule, these towers were initially still used. Captain Dickens struck before 1813, to reinforce the towers and expand the coastal fortifications of the Order. However, these plans did not reach for execution. 1828 suggested Captain Jones of the Royal Engineers the demolition of all towers before. He justified his proposal so that the towers fire from modern artillery would not last long, however, an expansion would be too costly. The structural condition of the towers had deteriorated in the past few years, some were in a ruinous state, others required the repair. 1832 decreed Colonel Morshead, Chief Royal Engineer, the demolition of all the towers. Ultimately, was taken from a demolition distance and pass the existing towers to the local authorities.

During a severe earthquake, the tower was destroyed in 1856. The nearby blockhouse survived the earthquake largely undamaged. Since militarily useless and situated far from the settlement sites and the tower was never rebuilt. The crest badge of the reigning Grand Master, which was originally located above the entrance is on display in the tas - Salib Garden in Mellieha. There is also a 6- pounder cannon can be seen, which was set up until the earthquake on the tower.

West side of the tower

Interior

View from the tower to the north across the Gozo and Comino Channel

View from the tower to the east on the cliff on the St Paul 's Islands