Pembroke which was named after the 12th Earl of Pembroke and British Secretary of War in 1859. The Earldom of Pembroke, associated with Pembroke Castle in Wales, was created by King Stephen of England. Several times the line has become extinct, and the earldom has been re-created, starting the count over again with a new first Earl. On 1 September 1533 King Henry VIII created his queen Anne Boleyn Marchioness of Pembroke in her own right, a signal honor, because his great-uncle Jasper Tudor had been the earl of Pembroke, and because Henry's own father, Henry VII, had been born there. Pembroke owes its origin to the Knights of St John of Jerusalem who built two Watch Towers on its coast, which served as a means of defence for the Grand Harbour due to Pembroke's strategic position. However, the British Services were instrumental in the development and fortification of Pembroke. The first principal 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 Patricks and St Andrews. Fort Pembroke was built between 1875 and 1878 to serve two defence purposes, namely to safeguard the seaward approach towards the Grand Harbour and to defend the right flank of the Victoria Lines. Later, Pembroke Battery was built between 1897 and 1899 to serve the same purposes. Various regiments served in Pembroke and the last soldiers left Pembroke in 1979. During the Second World War, German Prisoners of War were imprisoned in Pembroke and during their stay, built a small chapel which served the needs of the British Services. Since then, all the land which had been purchased by the British Services on their arrival in Malta was handed over to the Maltese Government. For a few years, Pembroke was neglected but in the mid 1980's, the barracks were converted into private residences, offices and a holiday complex. At the same time, the Government issued plots of land for sale and the first residents settled in 1986. During the coming years, Pembroke is set to see a greater influx of residents as a housing expansion programme is under way. Madaliena Tower, safeguarding the coast of Bahar ic-Caghaq was built in 1658 by Grand Master De Redin. In the 19th Century it was modified by the British Services to accommodate a 64-pdr RML Gun on a circular traversing carriage to safeguard the surrounding coast as well as to assist the Victoria Lines in their defence purpose. This is one of a serious of towers built in Pembroke. Pembroke had a good number of fortifications.
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