Pembroke, Malta
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Pembroke, Malta's newest town, is situated on the northern coast of Malta. It is flanked to the East by Paceville, the nightlife district of Malta. The coastal town and tourist hub of St. Julian's lies to its South East, and the residential area of Swieqi borders it to the South. The upper class hilltop village of Madliena is situated to its West, and Bahar ic-Caghaq is located some distance to the North West. It has an area of 2.3sq.km, while its population as of 31st March 1999 stood at approximately 2650, 51.3% males and 48.7% females. Pembroke is named after the 12th Earl of Pembroke and British Secretary of War in 1859.
The town its origin to the Knights of St John of Jerusalem who built two Watch Towers on its coast, and these served as a means of defence for the Grand Harbour, siutauted approximately 6 km to the East. However, the British were instrumental in the development and fortification of Pembroke. The first barracks were constructed between 1859 and 1862 and were named after England's Patron Saint - St George's. Other barracks were built later and named after Ireland and Scotland's Patron Saints - St Patrick and St Andrew. Fort Pembroke was built between 1875 and 1878 to serve two purposes, namely to safeguard the seaward approach towards the Grand Harbour and to defend the right flank of the Victoria Lines (and is now the site of an international school offering the IGCSE and IB programmes). Later, Pembroke Battery was built between 1897 and 1899 to serve the same purposes.
The last British soldiers left Pembroke in 1979. During the Second World War, German Prisoners of War were held in Pembroke's fort and during their stay, built a small chapel which served the needs of the British troops. Since then, all the land which had been purchased by the British on their arrival in Malta has been relinquished to the Maltese Government. Pembroke remained neglected even in the mid-1980's, as the barracks were converted into low-rent residences and an unsuccessful holiday complex. However, the Government began to issue plots of land for sale and the first residents settled in 1986. It has since become a reasonably clean, safe and pleasant town, popular with language students particularly during the summer months.
See also
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