Major Ray Miller will be giving a lecture about the "British Fortifications - a 19th Century Building Boom in Malta" on behalf of Din l-Art Helwa on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Major Miller developed his interest in fortifications while serving in the Royal Malta Artillery in the 1960s. During the course of his lecture, he will be tracing the development of British built defences on the island and the strategy to keep the island defended with state of the art weaponry until the late 1950s.

The British established themselves in Malta in 1800, but it was only after 1850 that they felt the need to embark on an extensive programme of re-armament and fortress building.

Thus started the fortress "building boom" of the 1870s, '80s and '90s. By 1900, the British army in Malta was capable of defending the harbours and dockyards even when the fleet was away.

The process of arming and re-arming the forts of Malta was a continuous one, and only ended at the end of the 1950s, when coast artillery was abandoned as a result of the introduction of guided weapons.

Unlike the fortifications of the Knights, the British fortifications were intentionally designed to blend in with the countryside, and are therefore far less evident than the bastions around Malta's cities, as they are low lying and built low in the ground.

It is hard to believe that around 30 forts were built between 1860 and 1938. Most of these forts are in a pitiful state today and have been allowed inappropriate use for many decades by successive governments, DLH said.

"The fortresses have enormous potential if developed as heritage attractions and it is hoped that the authorities can dedicate resources to them so that they are given the attention they deserve in order to save them from irreversible deterioration."

The talk will be given at the DLH headquarters at 133 Melita Street, Valletta. Entrance is free. Participants are asked to be seated by 5.45 p.m.