Fort Sliema, later better known as Sliema Point Battery, was one of the four coastal works projected by Colonel Jervois in 1866 and appears to have been the directly inspired by him since its design reflects a certain Gothic character - with its decorated cornice, carved loopholes and embrasures, and moulded archway - which was also a feature of his earlier forts on Alderney (Hughes, 1981, 158). Such features gave the work the appearance more of a medieval castle than heavy-gun fort.

Work on Fort Sliema, which was sited on the rocky shore line north of Fort Tigné, began in 1872. The fort was originally intended to mount two 23-ton guns but by June of 1872, while the fort was still under construction, the Defence Committee decided to improve its armament to four guns, two 11-inch of 25-tons RML guns and two 10-inch of 18-tons RML guns, all inside casemates and behind iron shields.  In January of 1873, there was a further amendment when it was recommended that the two 11-inch were instead be replaced two 12.5-inch of 38-tons RMLs. These were eventually installed, in 1878, behind armoured fronts and on rotating platforms.