7:00 PM 9/28/2003

is proud to bring you the - Part Two -

Please be patient while images load.   edit: my-malta.com © 2003   Morag & Colin Bailey © 2003

Strada Reale (Kingsway) in the Nineteen Twenties   The search was now on for the church.   This initially proved extremely perplexing and there were false trails, however, a visit to the Valletta Office of Tourism proved positive. The people there contacted a church official who was able to say that the building, though it still existed, was no longer a church and was in fact used to store Carnival equipment.   This did mean, of course, that we could not enter the premises. On a subsequent visit we thought that we would be able to go inside, for we had made contact with someone, whom we discovered, through casual conversation, knew the gentleman with the key to the building.   Sadly, this was not to be, for we were told the building was in such a dangerous condition that the equipment was to be removed and refurbishment carried out.   Maybe we will be fortunate when next we visit.   We have, however, received the assistance of another of our Maltese friends, who obtained photographs of the interior for us.   This was especially helpful to us, for now at least we could see something of what it was like.   Argotti Gardens   Many of the old photographs led us to the St. Anton and the Argotti Gardens, even to the Maritime Museum, where Mr. Rodriguez and Josephine, assisted us in the identification of the funeral photographs of Sir Walter Congreve, former Governor of Malta.   At the Argotti Gardens a chance encounter with the Curator, proved a happy and positive one.   He furnished us with identification and information relating to the aerial photographic views of the island in our possession, where the age-old farming method of terracing can be seen.   Many of these areas are now completely developed with industrial and tourist facilities.     two of the Mason-Bailey collection of the 'Congreve Funeral' photos   The friend who knew the man with the key is Joe Zammit who is an official on the St. Dominic Festival Committee.   He found a picture in our album that he had searched the island for.   It is a picture of the Arch of St. Dominic.   This beautiful Arch, we learned, had been broken up and used for fuel, in those terrible and desperate times during World War II.   He was furnished with a copy of this photograph and it was published in the Programme for the Festa of St. Dominic.   This was particularly heartening for us, to find that, after 80 years, the photographs were useful and brought pleasure to all who saw the album.   The “Grand Studios” inscription features on many of the photographs in our possession.   It seems that John Mason Senior was involved, in some way, in the business, so had perhaps an unusual number of family portraits taken and had access to scenic photographs that would not otherwise have been the case.   Photographs from the old Mason-Bailey album may be seen on the following page/s.   During one of our early visits to the island, and working on a hunch, we had visited the “House of the 4 Winds”, then the Ministry of Justice.   The gentlemen there relished the challenge of identification and spent some time picking out the places that they recognised.   We were then treated to a tour of the lovely house that had been my husband’s mother's home.   This was so special and it was difficult to leave.   We took our own photographs from similar perspectives to those used in the album, and hope that our descendants will enjoy the Maltese experience, as we have.   Naturally, we have also wondered what Evelyn, my husband's mother, would have thought about everything that has happened to us, all because we decided to visit this tiny island in the Mediterranean Sea that had meant so much to her.   We would not have had this wonderful experience if our forbears had not taken so many photographs for us to enjoy.   Our hope is that we may pass on our memories of Malta too, with contemporary photographs and the story of our family.   These, combined with the ancient images and research, will hopefully create a useful and lasting record for future generations.           A GLIMPSE AT PART 3 -- The Mason-Bailey Malta Album: Part Three is the Malta-Photo-Album from John Mason's tour of duty at Malta.     Please click the following link to proceed to the Malta-Photo-Album now ... Morag Bailey © 2003   Proceed to Part 3 now, or return to Part 1. my-Malta-home Towns & Villages Our Rich History That's Interesting !? At Your Service Sign Guest Book Maltese People Special Feature Resources Page Stationed at Malta What's New ? E-MAIL US Site Map Join Us ! Message Boards Please circulate this page amongst your friends and contacts, urging them to support Maltese culture. Nitolbuk tibghat din il-pagna lil hbiebek kollha, biex inhegguhom jibizghu ghall-kultura Maltija kollha.     Notes: Remember to read the "whole" passage before referring to these notes.   Return to the Main text. The Argotti Gardens in Floriana have been entrusted to the University of Malta since 1885 (with the exception of two decades when they were in the care of the Dept. of Agriculture).   Todate, the University keeps a specialised Botanical section which is used for educational purposes as well as housing a specialist selection of plants. Refer to The Times, 11-Jan-2002. In this respect, Argotti's past has been greatly associated with Maltese medical and surgical history, as medicinal herbs are said to have been grown here since the Maltese Islands' rule by the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. The Gardens' origins go back to the year 1774, when the Bailiff Ignatius Argote et Guzman built his palace on these grounds, where it still exists.   There are two main sections to these gardens; the public and private sections.   Argote's Palace is in the latter. There is also a subsidiary garden sectioned off from the main grounds and located at a lower level. This is known as Gnien San Filippu (S.Philip's Garden), otherwise known as Gnien tal-General (or the General's Garden). Unfortunately, the lovely greenhouse (seen in the picture above) has had to be dismantled in later years as its upkeep was deemed to be too costly. Refer also to Bliet u Rhula Maltin; Alfie Guillaumier, 1987. return to main text Please proceed to Part 3 now.

il-'website' Maltija tieghek !

Please circulate this page amongst your friends and contacts, urging them to support Maltese culture. Nitolbuk tibghat din il-pagna lil hbiebek kollha, biex inhegguhom jibizghu ghall-kultura Maltija kollha. "Thank you for visiting!" "Grazzi talli zortna!"