{{Short description|Redoubt in Birżebbuġa, Malta}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Saint George Redoubt | native_name = Ridott ta' San Ġorġ | location = Birżebbuġa, Malta | image = Saint George Redoubt.jpeg | image_size = 300px | caption = View of St. George Redoubt | map = St. George Redoubt map.png | image_mapsize = 300px | map_caption = Map of St. George Redoubt | type = Redoubt | coordinates = {{coord|35|49|52|N|14|31|49.7|E|type:landmark|display=inline}} | ownership = Archdiocese of Malta | controlledby = Missionary Society of St Paul | open_to_public = | built = 1714–1716 | used = | builder = Order of Saint John | materials = Limestone | height = | condition = Intact | battles = | events = }}
'''Saint George Redoubt''' ({{langx|mt|Ridott ta' San Ġorġ}}) is a redoubt in Birżebbuġa, Malta. It was built in 1714–1716 by the Order of Saint John as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands. It is named after a chapel dedicated to St. George, which was incorporated within the redoubt. The redoubt and chapel still exist and are in good condition.
==History== thumb|left|The redoubt's platform, with the chapel to the left The site has been inhabited since the Bronze Age and silos of the period are still found at the coast next to the redoubt.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Scheduling of Properties|url=http://www.pa.org.mt/file.aspx?f=571|journal=Planning Authority|date=5 May 1998|page=1969-2970|access-date=20 June 2017|issue=358}}</ref>
Saint George Redoubt was built in 1714–1716 as part of the first building programme of coastal batteries in Malta. It was part of a chain of fortifications that defended Marsaxlokk Bay, which also included three other redoubts, the large Saint Lucian Tower, two smaller De Redin towers, seven batteries and three entrenchments.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vendôme Tower|url=http://www.eh4-marenostrum.net/virtualtour/Marsaxlokk/trail_2/09/Vendome-Tower.pdf|website=Mare Nostrum|accessdate=25 June 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531015138/http://www.eh4-marenostrum.net/virtualtour/Marsaxlokk/trail_2/09/Vendome-Tower.pdf|archivedate=31 May 2015}}</ref>
The redoubt was built on the site of a cemetery.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Scerri|first1=John|title=Cemeteries|url=http://www.malta-canada.com/churches-chapels/Cemeteries.htm|website=Malta-Canada.com|accessdate=26 June 2015}}</ref> It incorporated the Chapel of St. George, which had been built in 1683 on the site of an earlier chapel.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Scerri|first1=John|title=Birzebbuga|url=http://www.malta-canada.com/churches-chapels/Birzebbuga.htm|website=Malta-Canada.com|accessdate=26 June 2015}}</ref> Apart from being the only Hospitaller redoubt incorporating a church, St. George Redoubt is also unusual since it has a semi-circular shape, while most redoubts were pentagonal.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Spiteri|first1=Stephen C.|title=18th Century Hospitaller Coastal Batteries|url=http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Fortifications/18th-century-hospitaller-coastal-batteries.html|website=MilitaryArchitecture.com|accessdate=26 June 2015|date=10 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108112214/http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Fortifications/18th-century-hospitaller-coastal-batteries.html |archive-date=8 November 2015}}</ref> The semi-circular platform is ringed by a low parapet. The walls linking the redoubt to the church are pierced by musketry loopholes, while the doorway had a ditch and a drawbridge.
Sometime after 1741, two fougasses were excavated behind the redoubt. They are now located within private houses.
==Present day== thumb|right|Musketry loopholes Today, the chapel and redoubt are managed by the Missionary Society of St Paul. They are both in good condition, and are listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.<ref>{{cite web|title=St George Redoubt|url=http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Knights%20Fortifications/1409.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627044706/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Knights%20Fortifications/1409.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 27, 2015|website=National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands|accessdate=19 September 2015|date=28 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Church of St George|url=http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Chapels%20and%20Niches/1704.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414221728/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Chapels%20and%20Niches/1704.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 14, 2015|website=National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands|accessdate=19 September 2015|date=27 September 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150627044706/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Knights%20Fortifications/1409.pdf National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands]
{{Redoubts}}
Category:Redoubts in Malta Category:Hospitaller fortifications in Malta Category:Military installations established in 1715 Category:Birżebbuġa Category:Limestone buildings in Malta Category:Fortified church buildings Category:National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands Category:18th-century fortifications Category:1715 establishments in Malta Category:18th Century military history of Malta