Corradino Lines
{{Short description|Line of fortification in Paola, Malta}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Corradino Lines
| native_name = Is-Swar ta' Kordin
| image = View of the Corradino Lines and ditch.jpeg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = View of the Corradino Lines and ditch
| map = Corradino Lines map.png
| image_mapsize = 300px
| map_caption = Map of the Corradino Lines
| type = Line of fortification
| coordinates = {{coord|35|52|41|N|14|30|34|E|type:landmark_region:MT|display=inline,title}}
| ownership =
| controlledby =
| open_to_public =
| built = 1871–1880
| used = 1880–1900s
1940s
| builder = British Empire
| materials = Limestone
| height =
| condition = Partly intact
| battles = World War II
| events =
}}
The Corradino Lines ({{langx|mt|Is-Swar ta' Kordin}}) are a line of fortification on the Corradino Heights in Paola, Malta. They were built between 1871 and 1880 by the British. Today, the lines are partly intact and they lie in an industrial area.
History
Corradino ({{langx|mt|Kordin}}) is a large headland within the Grand Harbour, overlooking Senglea and Floriana. Corradino is on high ground compared to the surrounding area, and therefore was of great strategic importance. The site's importance was seen in the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, when Ottomans mounted cannons on high ground to bombard the Order of Saint John in Senglea and Birgu.{{cite web|last1=Hammond|first1=Peter|title=The Great Siege of Malta|url=http://www.reformationsa.org/index.php/history/341-the-great-siege-of-malta|website=The Reformation Society|accessdate=16 June 2015|archive-date=19 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219112351/http://reformationsa.org/index.php/history/341-the-great-siege-of-malta|url-status=dead}} Over 200 years later, new batteries were built on Corradino, this time by Maltese insurgents to bombard the French during the blockade of 1798–1800.{{cite journal|last1=Spiteri|first1=Stephen C.|title=Maltese 'siege' batteries of the blockade 1798-1800|journal=Arx - Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification|date=May 2008|issue=6|pages=24–25|url=http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/images/stories/Arx/arx6-2008.pdf|accessdate=16 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126232114/http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/images/stories/Arx/arx6-2008.pdf |archive-date=26 November 2016}}
Although the Order of Saint John built extensive fortifications around most of the Grand Harbour area, Corradino was not fortified. A proposal to build a bastioned enceinte was made in the 1670s following the fall of Candia, but this was never built due to a lack of funds. The only military building on the headland was a polverista at Ras Ħanżir, which Pinto built in 1756.{{cite news|title=One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of the Maltese islands (42) - Ras Hanzir Polverista and ancillary structures|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090926/opinion/one-world-protecting-the-most-significant-buildings-monuments-and.274832|accessdate=16 June 2015|work=Times of Malta|date=26 September 2009}}{{cite book|last=Spiteri|first=Stephen C.|date=2003|title=Armoury of the Knights|url=https://issuu.com/arkitettura/docs/armoury-of-the-knights|publisher=Midsea Books|page=178|isbn=99932-39-33-X}}
Malta was eventually taken over by the British, and the island became the Royal Navy's main base in the Mediterranean. In the 1860s, it was decided that the Malta Dockyard be expanded into French Creek, the inlet between Senglea and Corradino. In the following years, the necessity to fortify Corradino was highlighted, since if an enemy took over the headland, the dockyard could be easily attacked.
The Corradino Lines were therefore built by the Royal Engineers between 1871 and 1880, at a total cost of £17634. Part of the megalithic temple of Kordin II was destroyed to make way for the new line of fortification in 1871.{{cite book|last1=Vella|first1=Nicholas C.|title=The Prehistoric Temples at Kordin III|date=2004|publisher=Heritage Books|location=Santa Venera|isbn=9993239879}} The defensive line consisted of a V-shaped polygonal-style trace surrounded by a ditch, stretching all the way from the Cottonera Lines to the Ras Ħanżir polverista.{{cite web|title=Corradino Lines|url=http://schoolnet.gov.mt/history/wirt/Nglizi/Difiza/CorradLines.htm|website=schoolnet.gov.mt|language=Maltese|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208165901/http://www.schoolnet.gov.mt/history/wirt/Nglizi/Difiza/CorradLines.htm|archivedate=8 December 2015}} The lines were also meant to protect the polverista, which was modified by the addition of an enclosure pierced by musketry loopholes.{{cite journal|last1=Spiteri|first1=Stephen C.|title=Hospitaller Gunpowder Magazines|journal=Arx - International Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification|date=May 2012|issue=2|pages=41–46|url=http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Journals/arx-occasional-papers-hospitaller-gunpowder-magazines.html|accessdate=16 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915201212/http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Journals/arx-occasional-papers-hospitaller-gunpowder-magazines.html |archive-date=15 September 2017}} The lines were armed with two RML 64-pound guns.{{cite book|last1=Castillo|first1=Denis Angelo|title=The Maltese Cross: A Strategic History of Malta|date=2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|location=Westport|isbn=9780313323294|page=134|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i5ns5LNtoiUC&pg=PA134}}
A proposal was made to build a new town within the Corradino Lines, but this was rejected and the area was converted into a naval prison.{{cite web|title=Paola, Malta|url=http://www.aeidl.eu/images/stories/50bestpractices/mt_paola_case-study.pdf|publisher=AEIDL|website=www.aeidl.eu|accessdate=16 June 2015|page=3|date=April 2012|archive-date=22 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122012257/http://www.aeidl.eu/images/stories/50bestpractices/mt_paola_case-study.pdf|url-status=dead}} The lines soon lost their military value, and were abandoned by the end of the 19th or beginning of the 20th centuries.
In World War II, the Corradino Lines were temporarily reestablished as an infantry entrenchment, and a defensive post containing a QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun turret was built.{{cite web|last1=Spiteri|first1=Stephen C.|title=Forgotten WWII Post at Corradino|url=http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Fortifications/forgotten-wwii-post-at-corradino.html|website=MilitaryArchitecture.com|accessdate=16 June 2015|date=13 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002064319/http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Fortifications/forgotten-wwii-post-at-corradino.html |archive-date=2 October 2017}}
Present day
In the late 20th century, Corradino was converted into an industrial estate. The Corradino Lines were damaged during the course of development in the area. Despite this, most of the V-shaped enceinte and the ditch are still intact, although they are hidden from view amongst various factory buildings.
Plans are being made to restore the Corradino Lines{{cite web|title=Paola, Malta|url=http://www.atfort.eu/?cikkid=89|website=Atelier European Fortresses|accessdate=16 June 2015}} and turn them into a recreational park.{{cite web|title=Corradino Lines Recreational Park - Report on the Consultation Process|url=http://heritagenterprise.net/uploads/CORRADINO_LINES_RECREATIONAL_PARK_REPORT_PDF_CONSULTATION_PROCESS.pdf|website=heritagenterprise.net|accessdate=16 June 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304142756/http://www.heritagenterprise.net/uploads/CORRADINO_LINES_RECREATIONAL_PARK_REPORT_PDF_CONSULTATION_PROCESS.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Gallery
Corradino_lines_extension.jpeg
British_period_Corradino.jpeg
Corradino.Lines.jpeg
Corradino_Lines_decor.jpeg
Corradino_Lines,_Paola.jpeg
Corradino_Lines_Paola.jpeg
Corradino_Lines_Rahal_Gdid.jpeg
Corradino_lines.jpeg
Corradino_battery.jpeg