Here’s a full historical overview of Għajn Ħadid Tower, one of Malta’s De Redin watchtowers:
🏰 Għajn Ħadid Tower – Overview
The Għajn Ħadid Tower (sometimes called Torri ta’ Għajn Ħadid) was built in 1658–1659 by the Order of St John under Grand Master Martin de Redin.
🌍 Location
Near Selmun, Mellieħa, Malta.
Positioned to watch over St Paul’s Bay and signal to nearby towers (Qalet Marku Tower and Ta’ Għajn Ħadid inland routes).
📜 Background
Grand Master De Redin commissioned a chain of 13 coastal watchtowers around Malta’s coastline to improve early warning against Ottoman and Barbary corsair raids.
Għajn Ħadid Tower was one of these De Redin Towers.
🏗️ Construction
Built entirely of local limestone.
Standard De Redin design:
Square plan.
Two floors plus a roof platform.
Elevated entrance (access by ladder).
Small garrison (usually 4 men).
Armed with a small cannon and muskets.
⚠️ Later History
Remained in use through the 17th and 18th centuries.
Damaged in the 1856 earthquake that struck Malta — the same quake that ruined parts of Mdina Cathedral.
After the earthquake, the tower was abandoned.
Today only ruins survive: collapsed walls and rubble, but the site is still identifiable.
⚔️ Unique associated structures
Unlike many other towers, the Għajn Ħadid site preserves traces of adjacent, small rural/militia structures — rubble-walled fields, a rock well and a defensible “militia” room pierced with musket-loops. These elements suggest the tower’s garrison cultivated and kept animals and that the site had additional, locally-unique defensive arrangements.
📜 Summary
Għajn Ħadid Tower was severely damaged in an earthquake on 12 October 1856, when its upper floor collapsed. Most of the stones were then removed to be used in other buildings, but part of the scarped base still exists. The defensible room near the tower survived the earthquake, and still exists today. Despite the tower's collapse, its ruins are still important as they clearly show elements of the tower's architecture which are not normally visible in the still standing towers. Since the other De Redin towers are almost identical, more information about their construction can be found by studying Għajn Ħadid Tower.
⏳Visiting Today
The site is remote and reached by footpaths across l-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa countryside; wear sturdy footwear and respect any fenced/protected areas — parts of the ruins (and the militia room) have been reported unstable. The viewpoints from the cliff give broad panoramas over Mġiebaħ Bay, Comino and neighbouring headlands.
Further Information
The commemorative plaque that was originally on the tower is on public display at a garden in Tas-Salib Square in Mellieħa. The tower's 6-pound cannon was retrieved in 1975 by the Historical Society of Mellieħa, and it is now displayed along with the plaque at the same garden.
On the plaque it is written:
FR. D. MARTINVS DE REDIN MAGNO S. R. H. MAGISTRO SEXTAM SPEULAM. PRO GARINARVM. AC INCOLARVM TUTIORI STATIONE, ERIGENTI, MELITEN S. POPVLVS PRINCIPI SVO CLEMENT PRO. VT IN CORDE. SIC IN L…RIDE GRATES DEBITAS REDDEBAT AN. 1658.
