Parts of historic building demolished

Part of a historic building where the British flag was first raised in the Maltese Islands during the uprising against the French was demolished in the past few days, but prompt action stopped works before more serious damage could be caused.

The Dun Filippu Borgia society of Birkirkara said this afternoon that its officials were alerted to the demolition of part of the historic farmhouse in St Julian's Road, San Gwann.

They confirmed that demolition was underway at the back part of the building and immediately informed Mepa, which issued an enforcement notice and stopped the works.

The farmhouse was the headquarters of Vincenzo Borg Brared, one of the leaders of the Maltese when they rose against the French in 1798. He led the Birkirkara Battalion.

It was from that building, which at the time had a clear view of Valletta, from where Brared coordinated his operations with the British and where the British flag was raised in Malta for the first time.

The society said the building was a grade one scheduled structure. A permit had been issued for its renovation and extension. "The work, however, went beyond this and some rooms and walls were demolished," the society complained.

The Dun Filippu Borgia society has the preservation of cultural heritage among its aims.

22Share

Peter Gatt

May 23rd, 15:00

This historic buidling should not be seen as just another old house in Birkirkara but as a monument of the earliest revolts against what was to become the French (Napoleonic) Empire. During the revolt of 1798, Napoleon was in Egypt on an expedition that included Dolomieu, a French scientist and geologist who lived in Malta. In this respect, the Maltese had anticipated the continental discontent with French administration. Later revolts against the French in Spain were depicted by the gruesome imagery of Goya.

But I wonder if the Spanish are tearing down their Goyas in Madrid? Certainly not. So why are we allowing this historic building to be pulled down?

Astrid Vella

May 22nd, 12:53

Our outrage is compounded when one reads the law regarding such Scheduled Grade 1 properties: "Demolition or alterations which impair the setting or change the external or internal appearance, will not be allowed".Could MEPA officials kindly inform us how the permit was approved in the first place and how both applications for this listed building were not submitted to the HAC?

Why has MEPA completely dropped the practice of site visits? How can the members of the Committee correctly assess a building of that sensitivity without visiting it? As if we have not already lost so much heritage, we are now sacrificing thorough vetting in order to speed up the processing of applications.

The application shown on the MEPA website and submitted by the architect fails to state that this building is scheduled. What steps are to be taken about this omission?

Those who feel outrage at what has happened here should consider joining Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (Together for a Better Environment) to contribute tangibly to the preservation of heritage like this and many other sites that are threatened in Malta and Gozo. For more information go to: www.faa.org.mt

Andre Azzopardi

May 22nd, 11:51

Donnu li f'Malta biss ma naghrfux napprezzaw il-wirt storiku u kulturali li ghandna. Vincenzo Borg Brared kien wiehed mill-persunaggi ewlenin li halla l-marka tieghu fil-grajjiet tal-qawmien tal-Maltin kontra l-Francizi u allura dan il-bini storiku li fih tmexxiet parti minn din il-kampanja ghandu jkun imhares.
Barra minn hekk kien il-benefattur ewlieni tal-istatwa maestuza u kapolavur tal-arti ta' Sant' Elena li tinsab fil-Bazilika ta' Birkirkara. Dan il-fatt hu pprezentat b'bust ta' dan il-persunagg li jinsab fl-Awla Kapitulari tal-istess Kolleggjata.
Prosit lis-Socjeta Dun Filippu Borgia li ghal darb'ohra qed tiddefendi mhux biss il-wirt storiku li jinsab f'Birkirkara imma wkoll bini li ghandu x'jaqsam sew mal-istorja ta' Malta.

Mr Carmelo Micallef

May 22nd, 08:35

If the Owner and the Contractor and the managing Architect have wrongly demolished a historic building then why cannot they be penalised and forced to rectify their actions forthwith? In the meantime all their other applications and rights to work suspended until they have done their job correctly.

Let us see what happens in practise.
ply

John Neville Ebejer

May 22nd, 08:02

When Voubois ( the French Commander during the blockade) wrote his memoirs, he commented hoe they, the French, ended up treating the Maltese even worse than slaves.
When Bosredon de Ransijat made a resumee of what the French did wrong, he came up with a list - heavy taxes, removal of private and public funds, destruction of trade, etc etc least of which was looting from the churches.
So commentors like

Joe Fenech

May 23rd, 10:06

The French made the Maltese slaves? Are you serious? Look what the English did? Il-Gahan Malti is still stuck in the Middle-Ages partly because of their hindering his progress.

Victor Vella

May 22nd, 01:13

Well done Dun Filippu Borgia society, but I ask if MEPA issued a permit on such a historic building shouldn't it have supervised the works? where was the architect in charge of the worksm would we be getting excuses now? the owner contractor and architect should face heavy penalties , as this is th eonly way these things would stop.

Raymond Farrugia

May 21st, 23:17

hope they will be made to restore the building at their own cost.

Joe Fenech

May 21st, 22:30

The 18th century Gahan got rid of the French (the bringers of light) and catapulted himself into being a slave and he is suffering the consequences. Adieu lumières, bienvenues Middle Ages!

John Neville Ebejer

May 22nd, 08:10

You need to study Maltese history. When Vaubois wrote his memoires, (Vaubois? the French Military Commander during the Blockade?) he attributed the Maltese uprising to the fact that the French civil administrtion had treated (quote) the Maltese even worse than slaves.
When Bosredon de Ransijat made a post mortem of what made the Maltese uprise, he made a list of 12 reasons - starting off with raqping and pilliage during the invasion, heavy taxation, reform of the land rent laws - in favour of the state, misappropriation of public and private funds, the forcing of Maltese into the French Army and Navy without paying their families - least of which the looting of churches.
One has to be a Gahan not to rebel and uprise. And an even worst one to believe bogus historical interpretation which says otherwise and despise such characters as Borg Brared, whose house is threatened, whom we Maltese should hail as hero.

Mr C Busuttil

May 22nd, 09:50

L-unika haga denja ta' Gahan huma l-kummenti tieghek. Bringers of light my foot, the french only sought their interests. The only slave mentality is your adulation for them. The 18th century Maltese had the courage to stand up to arrogant and egoistic people as the french have always been and still are.

I forgot they believe in la grandeur de la France, grandeur of what ....... surrendering at the first occasion against the enemy as they always do. If France is great what should the people Rome consider themselves, since their city conquered and ruled an empire that France only dreamed of and who's legacy is still the basis of western civilization.

Hallina and wake up

Joe Fenech

May 22nd, 15:00

The French in one year devised a whole education and social system which the English destroyed. We had to wait till Mintoff was in office to achieve that again.

The local Medieval Church was behind the so-called revolt against the French, which was motivated by its obsession to maintain absolute power which is still the case today and not to pay tax. English rule, which followed, was a primary factor leading Malta to being what it is today: a country stuck in the darkest Middle Ages.

Throughout history, il-Gahan Malti has never objected to living under different rulers. However, when in this case the Church prodded him, he demonstrated that he was capable of jumping off a cliff because - in his pathetic frame of mind - he thought that will end up straight in Heaven (same thing as with the staunch Muslims).

Don't the deny the reality that's staring at you, and ignore those fancy revisionist history school books about Malta which have polluted pupils' minds over many decades.

D. A . Agius

May 21st, 22:00

Who exactly is making the alterations???

Wasn't this a government owned building?

Astrid Vella

May 21st, 21:50

This confirms what we have noticed over the last few weeks. Many old structures are not being submitted to the protective scrutiny of MEPA's Heritage Advisory Committee (HAC). This is an especially outrageous case since it is a Scheduled Grade 1 building. Could MEPA officials kindly inform us how two applications for such a listed building were not submitted to the HAC and why it has completely dropped the practice of site visits.

How can the members of the Committee correctly assess a building of that sensitivity without visiting it? As if we have not already lost so much heritage, we are now sacrificing thorough vetting in order to speed up the processing of applications.

We are also dismayed to note that the application shown on the MEPA website and submitted by the architect makes no reference to the fact that this building is scheduled. What steps are to be taken about this omission?

Mario Gauci

May 21st, 21:42

May I remined you that Birkirkara suffered a lot of disfigurement from its original urbanistic development. Even more, no rural land remained and to make things worse the only remaining green area ‘Tal-Balal’ have suffered from a severe ecological damage due to soil exhaustion caused by the heavy pollution and the structural development around. From an airplane view, the ‘Tal-Balal’ area seems like a backyard of a big complex (Birkirkara) dominated by crammed building, commercial roads and bypasses. Houses have lost their Victorian taste and have been converted into boutiques and unstylishly shops. Areas like the old Laqxija part and others have been disfigured too. But now demolishing this old historical building where eminent Maltese patriot Censu Brared combated against the French will exceed every limit. MEPA should take action at the earliest possible!

Thanks

Mr Stephen Florian

May 21st, 21:32

Also known colloquially as Ir-Razzett ta' Xindi. A very important landmark during the uprising against the French.

Mr julian caruana

May 21st, 21:16

i really dont understand why people buy this kind of house when they dont care about its historical value or any architectural importance, if you want large open plan just buy an empty plot and build what you want or a modern villa, why buy an old house to make it look new.

mepa should be more vigilant when it comes to old house, look at all sand blasting going on everywhere. shame ........

by the way i hope mepa asked for a guarantee and that h ll loose it.

Matthew Schembri

May 21st, 21:00

@ Ms Maria Vassallo:

One of the problems in this country is that people who are not informed dare to comment... Should you be interested in getting to know what the society does, consult books regarding Birkirkara during these last 75 years.

Best Regards.

Ms Maria Vassallo

May 21st, 20:42

The Dun Filippu Borgia society has the preservation of cultural heritage among its aims.

Do not make us laugh!

Where were you in the past vis-a-vis this 'historic' building?

What did you do to restore and thus remove any health and safety hazards.

Mela m'ghandkomx ghajnejn f'wicckom?

Andrea Portelli

May 21st, 20:35

But why are we Maltese so indifferent towards our heritage? Why are we so damn ignorant!

Ms Rhonda Balzan Bastow

May 22nd, 04:23

Look to/review our curiculum on our own history taught in our schools for answers...then lobby to rectify the matter for the future generations.

Victor Pulis

May 21st, 20:29

What house?! All i can see is a jungle of wires and cables. The only thing missing is spiderman swinging aloft!

Mr Joseph Micallef

May 21st, 21:22

Mr. Pulis, you must have some sight problems since you are seeing the wires and cables and missing the building right behind them!

Steve Elliott

May 21st, 21:38

that comment has made my day. and they say the maltese has no sense of humour

Mr Denis Pace

May 22nd, 00:56

what petty minds

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110521/local/historic-building-partly-demolished.366484

Print Page