One World

Mepa schedules Ta' Baldu, Rabat
The area known as Ta' Baldu contains various remains of archaeological, rural, historical and contextual importance. (The site is characterised by two oblong farmhouses possibly dating to the 17th century.) Both farmhouses are typical of vernacular architecture and are found within a rural setting that has until 2004 remained mostly unchanged for the past 300 hundred years. Close to the farmhouses are a number of rubble walls, some of exceptional workmanship and soaring up to five metres in height. In 2004 illegal works were carried without application or permit in one of the farmhouses and, the surrounding fields, (and very old rubble walls of unique quality). These infringements persisted despite the issue of an Emergency Conservation Order (GN. No. 114/04) published in the Government Gazette on February 6, 2004, copies of which were also fixed on site and owner informed. A recent development also included hard landscaping and the creation of a small football pitch complete with turf and goal posts.

Within the ridge beneath the farmhouses are a number of differently sized caves. Among these a rock-cut chamber believed to have served as a bathing place during the early-modern period, and another larger cave containing water reservoirs, the date '1629' inscribed on one of the rock walls, a stone table and benches, and a Roman olive crusher (trapetum). The presence of this trapetum implies the existence of a Roman rustic villa in the vicinity. Between 1664 and 1665, a German traveller called Schellinkx described and published an illustration of the afore-mentioned features, which are still extant on site, though their conservation in situ has now become under threat owing to the ongoing development taking place without any regard to permit requirements and best practice in conservation. The second farmhouse is being restored according to planning permit conditions and approved restoration method statement.