The 'Villa l ' Hamra' ~ 'Cherries' at Pretty Bay

The Villa as it looked c1900.


The Villa l'Hamra now Cherries as it looks in 2008. (Photo above and below taken by Laetitia Agius of Birzebbuga)

" The Villa " That's what it's been called by the locals at Birzebbuga for over one hundred years. A very prominent building situated in the heart of Pretty Bay Birzebbuga. Today, in 2008 and going back a few years its been called 'The Cherries'.
It's a fairly large property facing the beach in the most prominent part of Birzebbuga. I cannot write about all the history of the place cause I can only go back to the mid 1930s. When WW2 started in June 1940 the British Army occupied the Villa. It was used as Headquarters for the Devonshire Regiment, the West Kent Regiment and the Hampshire Regiment. During those days c1941, military cars belonging to officers of these regiments used to be lined up, parked outside the main entrance. Some Maltese civilians used to work there with the military.

Going back before the Marsaxlokk Bay breakwater was built, the small sandy beach that used to be created during the summer months used to disappear during the winter months as the sand used to be pushed out into the bay. When the sea was rough the large waves that used to batter the wall at the edge of the roadway used to end up hitting the entrance door and the wall of the Villa. The locals who had to walk past the Villa during a sea storm had to make a quick dash so not to get wet with the sea spray. It's a much different scene today with no more waves hitting the road and the sandy beach staying there during the winter months.
Today the Villa / Cherries is owned by the Mifsud family. Marlon Mifsud has contacted me, saying his father has owned the Villa for the past eighteen years.

Maybe he can tell us some more history about the Villa at Pretty Bay.

Ic - cumnijja tat - tankijiet / The smoke stack at the Shell fuel depot.

This photo was taken during WW2, early 1942 by Flt Sgt Thomas Barker RAF.

A local police officer standing duty on the Shell oil tankers Pier. The Shell chimney can be seen in the background at left of picture.

Not many people living today at Birzebbuga would remember the old smoke chimney / ic - cumnijja that was situated at the Shell oil fuel depot at Birzebbuga. Today called Enemalta Fuel Depot. Many years ago we used to call it '' ic - cumnijja tat - tankijiet ''.
It was inside the Depot, situated at the end of Triq it - Tankijiet and Sacred Heart Promenade and in line with the Shell Pier as can be seen in the lower picture.
I used to live very close to this chimney during the 1930s / early 1940s. It was very close to the small area that used to be called '' il - Gzira ''.
Close to the chimney there used to be a large uncultivated field that the local soccer team players used to do their training and practise.

Wartime Pictures of Birzebbuga - 1943

These photos of Birzebbuga were taken during early 1943 by the late Flt. Sgt Thomas Barker B.E.M. RAF who was stationed at Hal Far and Birzebbuga. Thomas Barker was born 1915 and died 2002. These photos were sent to me by his son Lawrence M. Barker of UK. Mr Barker has a very comprehensive story about his life in England and during his wartime years in Malta. The Website is at :
http://www.my-malta.com/interesting/barker/thomasbarker01.html

A very interesting story and many pictures.
In the photos one see some warships in Marsaxlokk Bay. In the background is Kalafrana R.A.F. and R.N. Base. In the 2nd and 4th photo one can see part of the side of the Breconshire the ship that was part of a convoy which reached Malta in 1942. The Breconshire was hit by bombs before it reached Malta but was able to limp into Marsaxlokk Bay. On the 2nd day after she arrived the German bombers attacked again and the ship while on fire went down in the Bay not far from the shores of Delimara.

View MY-MALTA.COM * HERE *

Thanks to Lawrence M. Barker for the Photos.

A view from up near the Church bells - Dec 1992

A view of Birzebbuga from up near the Church bells. A long climb of about 100+ steps to get near the church bells. This photo was taken on a Thursday Dec 1992. In the upper picture one can see the two roads that lead dowm to St Georges Bay. The old narrow road on the left and the new road that today carries most of the traffic in and out of the town.
The lower picture one can see the weekly market stalls where sellers provide a large range of goods and food every Thursday morning. Nowadays the market has been relocated to a better location. One can see part of Marsaxlokk Bay. Delimara in the background and part of the Freeport.

* Wied il - Buni ~ Birzebbuga *

Wied il - Buni Birzebbuga. Some years ago it was just a ditch, partly looked after and the rest neglected and used as a dumping place. Finally the people of Birzebbuga and the Local Council people decided to clean up the place. The old ditch was filled up and the ground levelled. After that, work was carried out to renovate and beautify the place. Today it's the number one spot for the locals, the visitors and tourists to spend their time of relaxation by the seaside.


Read the story of Wied il - Buni * Enter Here *

* The EDEN THEATRE at Birzebbuga - c1940 *

Very small - but Very Pretty

This lovely little sandy beach is situated at St Georges Bay just before your enter Birzebbuga. The No 11 bus coming down from Valleta would drop you right next to it.

It's a very clean beach. Well maintained by the Local Council. A car park is available on the opposite side of the roadway. Public convenience is also by the road.

The LIDO Theatre and the floods of c1960

Upper picture. The LIDO Theatre surrounded by flood water. The LIDO Theatre was built just after the end of WW2. At that period the locality was an open paddock that was prone to flooding when rain water came down from the valley at side of Zurrieq Road. There was no made road by the side of the Theatre in the early days c1950. It was pretty rough going finding your way to go to the pictures, still it was a great addition for evening entertainment at a time when the locals needed it badly after the war years.

The lower picture taken at the same period shows more floodwater in the main road leading to St Georges Bay.

On the way to St George's Bay & Qajjenza

This is the road that takes you to St George's Bay and onward to Qajjenza. That is if you are walking along the seashore. In the foreground at the left of the photo you can see a wall that seperates the Enemalta Fuel Storage (ex Shell Company Depot) from the roadway. Many years ago the locals used to call this location 'wara t'tankijiet' which in English meant 'at the rear of the of the tanks'. The tanks were the huge fuel storage tanks, about eight of them that Shell Company built above ground during the 1920s.

In the background is the suburb of Qajjenza. One can see all the new buildings, houses and holiday apartments that have been built since 1970. Nowadays these buildings cover a very large area and still growing at a fast rate.

This new locality is becoming a very much sought after place for new home buyers and a favourite spot for tourists who seek modern accomodation close to the seashore.

It is only a ten minute walk to the central part of Pretty Bay Birzrbbuga and about a fifteen minute walk to the historic cave of Ghar Dalam.

The Old Claridge Hotel and the two villas

Above you see two photos of the same location at Birzebbuga.
The upper photo was taken sometime during 1950s. Most likely about 1955. At left is the old Claridge Hotel which was built sometime in the 1920s.
During WW2 it was taken over by the RAF and was used as a Mess / Cooking House for the airmen.
About late 1944 it was handed back to its owners. I can recall that sometime in 1945 there was a big wedding held upstairs. The reception was held in the evening and the hotel was all lt up. It was a wonderful scene by the calm sea of Pretty Bay.

In the photo you can see that next to the Claridge Hotel a building is being demolished. This was a large very old villa. Sometime about 1950 it was being used (temporarily) as a School.

In the upper photo which was taken in 2006, you can see that all the three old buildings had gone a new holiday apartments were built in their place.
The Old Claridge Hotel was knocked down about 1972. The Southend Guesthouse was built in its place. During 2007 the holiday apartments / Southend Guesthouse was knocked down and presently, today in 2008 a new building is being erected.

Have a good look at the two photos and note the great transformation that has taken place at Birzebbuga over the past 40 yrs.



Rebuilding the Old Caridge and the South End Guesthouse Site. (photo by Adrain at Birzy - July08)

Someone building a boat

This is Birzebbuga c1960. The location is close by the old Claridge Hotel which existed during period 1930 to 1970. In the top left hand corner of the picture one can see the steel wrought iron gate that led to the lower corridor of the Hotel facing the beach front.
One can see the small concrete jetty that was so popular with swimmers who raced to it and made a high leaping jump in the sea. The water was very shallow by the jetty and it was very risky diving head first into the sea but everyone took the risk.

At top centre of the picture in the background one can see the Police Station which was next door to the Bayview Bar. No sandy beach can be seen in this photo. Unlike today in 2008 the sandy beach extends out into the bay by about 100 metres.

Tells you where you are and next destination

Finding your way.

The old Smiling Prince Hotel / Bar

The premises seen here on the left hand side which is situated on the corner is today the Malta Labour Party Club. This place has quite a long history. Going back to the early 1930s it was named The Smiling Prince Hotel. The Scicluna family owned and operated the Hotel. It was later operated as a Bar and was a favourite spot for most English Royal Navy and Royal Air Force servicemen to meet and enjoy a drink and a chat. It remained open right throughout the years of WW2.
Sometime about 1939 the Maltese Government installed a Redifusion set / speakers right at the doorway of this Hotel and the daily news service was broadcast and heard at about 7pm every evening. In those days very few people owned a wireless /radio so every evening a small crowd of local men used to gather outside the Hotel to listen to the daily News.

At some time during WW2 the place was also used by the English Military and just after WW2 ended it was used as a school for a brief period.

During the late 1930s and before WW2 started the Scicluna family had a small monkey that used to be kept on the balcony tied by a long light chain. The monkey used to ran across the front edge of the balcony and people used to throw peanuts up onto the balcony for the monkey.
Over the years the front doorway / entrance to the Bar was altered. On the other corner, again going back to the mid 1930s was the Central Bar which was owned and operated by the Dalli Family. The man who ran the Bar was Gillian Dalli and his wife Vanda also ran the Bar when Gillian passed away. They used to make delicious ice cream on the premises. The place was also used by the St Peters Football Club for a short period.
The street that seperates the two Bars is Addolorata Street / Our Lady of Sorrows Street that ends up at Tanks Street.

Birzebbuga ~ A Religious gathering 1966

The scene is directly in front of the Birzebbuga Parish Church of St Peter. One can see a small procession on the main road turning towards the church. That is 42 years ago. This area and the ground opposite the church have now been totally transformed and paved. New houses have been built in background on the main road.

Beautiful .... Peaceful.....Friendly location

A sight to enjoy. Blue sky, blue water, lovely boats, the salty smell if the sea.

Enjoy it all with a cold beer and fresh crispy pastizzi.

The Birzebbuga Band Club

The Birzebbuga Band Club is named St Peter of the Chains. It is situated right opposite the Parish Church and in the main road that leads you to St Georges Bay and onwards to Valletta. A very popular Club in this town.

An Aerial view of the Freeport at Marsaxlokk Bay - Adjoining Birzebbuga

This is the Freeport Container Terminal in Marsaxlokk Bay on the side of Birzebbuga. A very modern and busy shipping Container on and off loading terminal. The site used to be called Kalafrana which started as an RAF Base in 1929 and became HMS Falcon Royal Navy Base in 1946. A huge transformation took place. Much ground area that you see in this photo was claimed from the sea. Took a few years to fill up the space with rocks and concrete. It operates non stop 24x7. The terminal is leased to overseas companies and provides work to many local tradesmen.