Do you remember Strait Street?

Strait Street is one of those places that provoke a reaction in people. Nowadays people think of regeneration; historically the image is one of Knights and duels fought out in the narrow street; more recently it is an image of bars, sailors, clubs and - depending on what one believes or knows - brothels that characterise The Gut. The signs that remain above the front doors advertise the bars: the Egyptian Queen (just off Strait Street), the Retainer Bar, the Union Jack, the Blue Peter and so on. What remains within these buildings can provide evidence for their meaning and former use.

A new project - funded by the British Academy and to be undertaken by John Schofield of English Heritage and the University of Southampton's Archaeology Department and Emily Morrissey - will explore these related interests through an "excavation" of some of the bars of Strait Street.

It is a social archaeology of the modern period that aims to create biographies of the buildings and, ultimately, of the street itself within the wider context of Valletta. The project will employ conventional methods associated with archaeological research - oral histories, recovery and recording of artefacts, the study of archives and documents - but will also draw upon other subject areas, notably psychoanalysis with its emphasis on the connections that exist between place, objects, memory and identity.

But is this archaeology? Archaeology was once synonymous with studies of distant times and often time before history. Now archaeology is equally relevant to studies of the recent and contemporary pasts - the archaeology of our generation. It provides new insights into what we have always thought of as familiar and it provides a critique on modern life.

The first phase of work is planned for this summer. We will be in Malta from July 21 to August 3 and would like to hear from anyone who remembers Strait Street prior to or immediately after the British Navy's departure from Malta in 1979.

The events that caused the street's nightlife to fade to memory is something of particular interest to the project, as is life in Strait Street throughout the 20th century. Anyone who lived here or close by, worked in the bars, played the piano, policed the street, or simply has a story to tell - we would like to hear from you. Anyone who would like to contribute can either e-mail us or contact us at 9, Royston Court, Burbage Road, London SE24 9HG, England.

While in Malta we can be contacted either via (John's) e-mail or by leaving a message for us at the Grand Harbour Hotel, Valletta.

We are excited by this project, and to hearing interesting accounts, which we will then try to examine through the artefacts and evidence from the buildings themselves.

John.schofield@english-heritage.org.uk

emily@ehmorrissey.freeserve.co.uk