It served as a watchtower since it had views over the Grand Harbour and the surrounding countryside, and it saw use during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.

The Birgu Clock Tower is believed to have been built in the medieval period as a watchtower, and had views of the Grand Harbour and the surrounding countryside.

[2] According to Francisco Balbi di Correggio, Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette used the tower for surveillance during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.

[1][3] Following the transfer of the capital city from Birgu to Valletta, in 1572 the Order sold part of the tower to a family from Għaxaq, who used it as a private residence.

[6] During World War II, Birgu was heavily bombarded by Italian and German bombers due to its proximity to the Malta Dockyard.

[1] In 2004, part of the tower's foundations consisting of original cut rock on site was uncovered during an archaeological excavation by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.

[14] In January 2015, The Alfred Mizzi Foundation announced that it will finance the reconstruction of the tower, to coincide with the 450th anniversary of the 1565 siege.