Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna Restores Fort Rinella's Historic Artillery Store

Important works are currently at hand at Fort Rinella in Kalkara, home of the Armstrong 100-ton gun aimed at completing the original interior of the unique fort. Just last week, the long missing timber floor complete with trap door of the Artillery Store was started.

Located on the left side of the fort's quadrangle, the Artillery Store had multiple functions. Besides serving as the main store for all gun spares, tools and impliments it was also the main point of entry for all ammunition. The latter was hoisted down by hand using a Weston Differential Pulley block hung from a traveller attached to an overhead girder down a hatch or trapdoor. The latter was lined with a pair of rails set into the concrete floor below on which the ammunition trolleys moved. From here the one-ton shells or the gun powder cartridges were taken into the Shell or Cartridge Stores located underground under the gun to be stacked up.

The Artillery Store also served as a passage way to No. 2 Loading Chamber and the gun itself. It was furnished with rows of metal wall hooks for hammock slinging. During training sessions or an emergency the gunners slept in hammocks. They transfered from their peacetime barrack rooms at the back of the fort to here and the Pump Room on the other side of the gun emplacement to always be at the ready by the gun.

Once complete this part of the fort will be opened to the visiting public to witness how the enormous 100-ton gun ammunition was lowered into the magazines.

All work involved in this project is being carried out by FWA's Conservation & Logistics Unit and is funded by the foundation from donations received. It should be completed within the next fortnight

If you wish to support this work with a donation please use this link: https://www.wirtartna.org/donate