Listing Type : Coast Defence Battery
Location : Malta
Abercrombie’s Curtain was built by the Knights of St John and was previously known as St. Ubaldesca Curtain. This curtain wall covers the main entrance to Grand Harbour and was therefore a key coast defence position and was therefore well armed. Abercrombie’s Curtain links Abercrombie’s Bastion and St. Lazarus Bastion.
By 1861 this curtain mounted some sixteen 68-pdr Smoothbore guns. This was probably the largest single concentration of 68-pdr guns anywhere in the World and they would have proved a major problem for any hostile warship trying to enter the harbour area. With the advent of rifled guns the 68-pdr SB guns was no longer produced from 1861 as it had limitations in respect of penetrating the armour of iron warships.