Unfortunately, Qassisu Battery is one of those fortifications
which nowadays does not exist anymore. Many of the coastal batteries
were demolished in the 19th and 20th centuries for various reasons.
Two of the main reasons for demolishing these fortifications were
because the authorities needed to construct new roads and in recent
times (about thirty and forty years ago) to build new buildings.
The latter is the reason for demolishing Qassisu Battery. It is
an unfortune that at that time the authorities were not aware
of such heritage heritage and demolished it instead of revising
their plans and building the hotel near it. Now, in my opinion
the only way to repair this ‘damage’ is by building
a similar one near the area were it was originally built. It could
mind matter a little bit these fortifications are re-built even
if not in the same spot but some meters away.
The building of Qassisu Battery began in 1714 and it took more
than two years to finish it. Again Knight Commander Mongontier
contributed a sum of money for the construction of this battery.
In fact he contributed some 423 scudi and the rest about 899.4.17
scudi were paid by the Order. The Qassisu Battery is similar to
other coastal batteries built in the village of Mellieha. It consisted
of a semi-circular gun platform surrounded by a parapet with three
embrasures, two blockhouses and a redan at the rear. In 1770 the
battery was armed with four 8-pdrs.1