The Coalition for Gozo, with the backing of environment and heritage NGOs and hundreds of citizens, among whom eminent academics, historians, and artists, has submitted a request for an Emergency Conservation Order for the British Barracks at Fort Chambray. This comes after requests for the scheduling of the 19th century building made by the Coalition for Gozo were repeatedly ignored. The Għajnsielem Local Council is also supporting the request to grant scheduling protection to the barracks.

The failure to schedule the British Barracks made it possible for the Planning Authority to approve their demolition on December 12, 2024, paving the way for the development of the mid-18th century fort built by the Knights into an aparthotel and apartments.

The NGOs stressed that the British Barracks should be protected for their historical, architectural, cultural and typological value. The two-storey building features repeated arched doorways and openings, creating a rhythmic and continuous façade. It overlooks the Gozo channel, commanding spectacular views of Comino. In their request for an Emergency Conservation Order, the organisations have stressed the importance of protecting the barracks as they are unique in Gozo, and also because they are among the first, or even possibly the first, example of married quarters in the British Empire. The building was constructed entirely in Globigerina Limestone by the same master mason who was entrusted with the construction of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu. Research carried out by Din l-Art Ħelwa – Għawdex shows that the Chambray Barracks date back to at least 1895. A late 19th century Admiralty map of Gozo held at the National Archives of Malta shows that Fort Chambray’s British Barracks were already on plan in 1895.

In view of the fact that most of the British barracks buildings in Malta have been granted scheduling protection, even when they are not as historic as the Fort Chambray British Barracks, the exclusion of the only British barracks in Gozo from such protection remains perplexing. All historical elements and sites within Fort Chambray had been scheduled back in 2005, but the scheduling of the British Barracks was left pending. This was done to facilitate the demolition of the barracks to accommodate the development of Fort Chambray into a residential and commercial complex.

The NGOs also criticised the misleading narrative, propagated by the developers and their architects, that the interior of the building was significantly modified during the 1980s, and that consequently, only few authentic British elements of the structure remain. However, research conducted by the organisations shows that the internal layout has remained practically untouched after 129 years. A comparison between the architectural drawing of the original plan made by the British and the plan of the building in its current state shows that the modifications made are minor.

The British Barracks should be protected not only for their historical, cultural and architectural value, but also because they can easily be incorporated into a more sustainable plan for Fort Chambray. This could be a win-win situation: history restored, preserved, and repurposed for sustainable tourism and Gozo’s cultural enrichment. The British Barracks building can be restored to serve as a historical interpretation centre or a community or cultural hub. The need to safeguard our historical heritage must come before any interest to generate private profits.

Statement by:
BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Din l-Art Ħelwa – Għawdex
Għawdix
Wirt Għawdex
Friends of the Earth Malta
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Moviment Graffitti
The Archaeological Society Malta

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Għaqdiet, akkademiċi u ċittadini jitolbu b’urġenza l-ħarsien tal-barracks storiku fil-Forti Chambray

Il-Koalizzjoni għal Għawdex, bl-appoġġ ta’ numru ta’ għaqdiet li jaħdmu favur il-ħarsien ambjentali u l-wirt storiku, u mijiet ta’ ċittadini, fosthom akkademiċi, storiċi, u artisti prominenti, qed tressaq talba sabiex tinħareġ Ordni ta’ Konservazzjoni ta’ Emerġenza fuq il-Barracks tal-Ingliżi fil-Forti Chambray. Dan sar wara li t-talbiet għall-iskedar tal-binja tas-seklu 19 li saru mill-Koalizzjoni għal Għawdex ġew ripetutament injorati. Il-Kunsill Lokali t’Għajnsielem qiegħed ukoll jappoġġja t-talba biex il-binja tal-barracks tiġi skedata.

In-nuqqas li jiġu skedati l-Barracks tal-Ingliżi wassal biex, fit-12 ta’ Diċembru li għadda, l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar approvat li dawn jiġu mkissra sabiex jiġi akkomodat l-iżvilupp ta’ aparthotel u blokok ta’ appartamenti fil-Forti storiku ta’ żmien il-Kavallieri li jmur lura għan-nofs is-seklu 18.

L-għaqdiet qed jisħqu li l-Barracks tal-Ingliżi għandhom jiġu protetti għall-valur storiku, arkitettoniku, kulturali u tipoloġiku tagħhom. Din hija kkaratterizzata minn faċċata b’serje ta’ loġoġ li tħares lejn il-fliegu bejn Għawdex u Malta, b’veduti spettakolari ta’ Kemmuna. Fit-talba għal Ordni ta’ Konservazzjoni ta’ Emerġenza, l-għaqdiet qed jisħqu fuq l-importanza li jiġu protetti l-barracks peress li huma l-unika binja ta’ dan it-tip f’Għawdex, u anki wkoll għax huma fost l-ewwel, jew anki possibbilment l-ewwel, eżempju ta’ kwartieri tal-miżżewġin fl-Imperu Ingliż. Il-binja tal-barracks kienet inbniet bil-ġebla Maltija mill-istess bennej li bena l-Bażilika Ta’ Pinu. Skont riċerka li saret mill-għaqda Din l-Art Ħelwa – Għawdex, l-evidenza li nstabet fl-Arkivji Nazzjonali turi li l-binja tal-barracks tmur lura għal mill-inqas is-sena 1895. Mappa ta’ Għawdex imfassla mill-Ammiraljat Ingliż lejn l-aħħar tas-seklu 19 turi li l-Barracks tal-Ingliżi tal-Forti Chambray kienu diġà mmarkati fuq il-mappa fis-sena 1895.

Il-fatt li l-maġġoranza tal-binjiet tal-barracks ta’ żmien l-Ingliżi f’Malta ġew skedati — anke meta ma kellhomx l-importanza storika tal-Barracks tal-Forti Chambray — jagħmel in-nuqqas li dawn il-barracks jiġu protetti inspjegabbli. L-elementi u l-binjiet storiċi kollha fi ħdan il-Forti Chambray kienu ġew skedati lura fis-sena 2005, iżda l-iskedar tal-Barracks tal-Ingliż tħalla pendenti. Dan sar sabiex il-barracks ikunu jistgħu jiġu mwaqqgħa sabiex jiġi aġevolat l-iżvilupp tal-Forti Chambray f’kumpless residenzjali u kummerċjali.

L-għaqdiet qegħdin ukoll jargumentaw kontra n-narrattiva qarrieqa, ippreżentata mill-iżviluppaturi u l-periti tagħhom, li l-interjur tal-binja ġarrab modifiki sinifikanti fis-snin 80, u li għalhekk ma tantx fadal elementi awtentiċi fil-binja li jmorru lura għall-perjodu Ingliż. Ir-riċerka li saret mill-għaqdiet iżda turi li wara 129 sena, il-binja għadha prattikament l-istess. Jekk wieħed iqabbel id-disinji tal-pjanti oriġinali li kienu fasslu l-Ingliżi mal-pjanti attwali jidher ċar li l-modifiki li saru huma minuri ħafna.

Il-Barracks tal-Ingliżi għandhom jiġu protetti mhux biss għall-valur storiku, kulturali u arkitettoniku tagħhom, iżda għaliex jistgħu faċilment jiġu integrati fi pjan aktar sostenibbli għall-Forti Chambray. Għadna fiċ-ċans li dan is-sit storiku nirrestawrawh, nippreservawh u nagħtuh ħajja mill-ġdid bħala ċentru ta’ interpretazzjoni storika għat-turiżmu jew ċentru komunitarju għall-ħajja kulturali f’Għawdex. Il-wirt storiku tagħna għandu jiġi qabel kull interess għal profitti privati.

Stqarrija minn:
BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Din l-Art Ħelwa – Għawdex
Għawdix
Wirt Għawdex
Friends of the Earth Malta
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Moviment Graffitti
The Archaeological Society Malta