British Military Heritage highlighted in Malta’s National Inventory of Cultural Heritage
The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage has published its third set of entries of the year to the National Inventory, a register of cultural property, assets and examples of cultural heritage pertaining to the Maltese Islands. This set of entries include 214 individual listings to the National Inventory of Cultural Heritage.
This exhaustive addition is divided into two types of cultural heritage properties. The first includes 207 new additions to the National Inventory which have been formally recognised by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage for their cultural heritage value on aesthetic, historical, architectural and social criteria. The second set of additions relate to 7 properties selected from the Register of Scheduled Property, thereby reinforcing the sites’ inherent cultural heritage significance and attributing to them an additional layer of protection.
Among the 214 entries included in this update, the majority relate to British-era defensive architecture dating to the 20th century. This significant part of our history was embattled by preparations for the World Wars, social upheavals and an increased military presence within Malta. These sites showcase the propensity of Malta’s strategic geopolitical position within the Mediterranean, and its indelible participation within this bellicose period of history.
This new addition to the National Inventory is the most extant list of such built heritage of this type. The locations of these military structures exemplifying the multi-layer history of the Islands, with examples showcasing British-era pillboxes married into Knight’s period fabric, further extenuating the importance of harbour and coastal defence.
Pillboxes, defensive structures, artillery posts, gun emplacements and more have been preserved within the National Inventory of Cultural Heritage as not only a physical marker of this period, but also as evidence of the social and scientific importance these military structures carry.
Additionally, 7 bridges and viaducts have also been inserted into the National Inventory, following their scheduling by the Planning Authority. These bridges and viaducts are significant, and oftentimes rare, examples of infrastructural engineering and architectural heritage in Malta.
This latest addition to the National Inventory is part of the continuous efforts to document, preserve, and protect Malta’s cultural heritage. The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage remains dedicated to identifying and safeguarding the unique sites that enrich the Maltese and Gozitan landscapes, ensuring they remain lasting symbols of our collective history.
As outlined in Article 59(1) and Article 70 of the Cultural Heritage Act 2002 (as amended), it is imperative to note that any development or intervention on these properties requires prior approval from the Superintendent. Furthermore, causing damage to any of the properties included in the Inventory, even if privately owned, is strictly prohibited and constitutes an offense punishable by law.
The Superintendence encourages the public to visit the GIS Interface on our website, which not only serves as a portal of information for all sites located in the National Inventory, but can also easily highlight the latest additions when selecting “Latest Entries” on the lefthand navigator.
The National Inventory is a cultural heritage register curated and compiled by the Superintendence as one of its functions established by the Cultural Heritage Act (CAP 445).
The full list of properties recently added to the Inventory can be found on Government Gazzette No. 21,494, dated 26, August, 2025 (G.N. 1341).
