A year at the museums
No. 2: The National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum at Vittoriosa is one of the least stuffy and fossilised museums you could ever wish to visit. Maybe it's the fact that the exhibits on display pertain to the sea and ships that gives it this relaxed and, dare one say, breezy aura.
The museum is located in the building which formerly housed the Bakery of the British Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet. It was built on the design of William Scamp between 1842 and 1845 on the site of the barrel-vaulted arsenal of the Knights of St John.
After World War Il the building was converted into offices and stores and as the headquarters of the Admiralty Constabulary. The building remained part of the naval establishment up to the closure of the British base in 1979.
On entering the building you will see that the first hall is dominated by the engine room machinery of the Anadrian, a steam-driven grab dredger built in 1951 for Malta by Fergusson Brothers of Port Glasgow.
On the first floor, as you walk up the stairs, you enter the small Merchant section, which includes half models of merchantmen built in Malta. Next along, the St Angelo Hall doubles as a lecture room and an exhibition hall for a wide selection of ships' badges.
Moving on to the Main Hall, which is a surprisingly extensive space at 500 square metres. This area is dedicated to the Order of St. John. Various original artifacts are on display, including a unique selection of artillery pieces, along with weapons employed aboard the Order's navy, both on the galleys and men-of-war. The Knights' period is extremely well documented, with a display of portraits, sea paintings, charts, uniforms, models, weapons and nautical instruments in use during this period.
There is also an impressive model of a ceremonial barge, which was used for all official ceremonies held in the Grand Harbour, in which the presence of the Grand Master was required. It was rowed by nine men on each side and was rigged with two lateen sails.
An entire room is dedicated to traditional Maltese seacraft and other objects that illustrates popular traditions and Malta's long-standing maritime affiliation.
In the next area, known as the Customs Hall, there are a number of standard weights and measures and other objects including the uniform of an Inspector of Marine Police.
The British Royal Navy was, for nearly 180 years a significant presence in Malta. Indeed, the island was the home of the British Mediterranean Fleet. This fact is recognised in a further hall dedicated to this period with an impressive display of British naval memorabilia. This includes a gun deck, an original figurehead from HMS Hibernia and a range of naval weapons. The other part of this hall reflects the intangible heritage the British Navy left on the Maltese Islands. There is a section on the dockyard, and another on the naval hospital of Bighi. Artefacts record sports that were introduced into Malta by the navy, like boat races and football. A new addition to this particular section is a faithful reconstruction of a Music Hall, where British servicemen used to spend many of their off-duty hours. All of this attests to the navy's impact on the economy and social life of the Maltese Islands during its stay here.
The final hall presents an overview of Malta as a naval base, and depicts aspects of naval and civilian life, with the increasing importance of leisure emphasised.
The popularity of the museum can be discerned from the fact that between 20,000 and 25,000 visitors make the trip to Vittoriosa to take a stroll around the National Maritime Museum annually.
Interest in the museum is considerable, but helping to promote it is an organisation called: The Friends of the Maritime Museum. They do a very good job in keeping the museum's profile as high as possible. There is an annual membership fee of €11.65, whereas senior citizens pay just €6.99. Anyone wishing to join this organisation can do so by contacting
The Secretary,
Friends of the Maritime Museum,
c/o Malta Maritime Museum,
Ex-Naval Bakery, Vittoriosa
or by sending an e-mail to pem@onvol.net
The museum is located in the building which formerly housed the Bakery of the British Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet. It was built on the design of William Scamp between 1842 and 1845 on the site of the barrel-vaulted arsenal of the Knights of St John.
After World War Il the building was converted into offices and stores and as the headquarters of the Admiralty Constabulary. The building remained part of the naval establishment up to the closure of the British base in 1979.
On entering the building you will see that the first hall is dominated by the engine room machinery of the Anadrian, a steam-driven grab dredger built in 1951 for Malta by Fergusson Brothers of Port Glasgow.
On the first floor, as you walk up the stairs, you enter the small Merchant section, which includes half models of merchantmen built in Malta. Next along, the St Angelo Hall doubles as a lecture room and an exhibition hall for a wide selection of ships' badges.
Moving on to the Main Hall, which is a surprisingly extensive space at 500 square metres. This area is dedicated to the Order of St. John. Various original artifacts are on display, including a unique selection of artillery pieces, along with weapons employed aboard the Order's navy, both on the galleys and men-of-war. The Knights' period is extremely well documented, with a display of portraits, sea paintings, charts, uniforms, models, weapons and nautical instruments in use during this period.
There is also an impressive model of a ceremonial barge, which was used for all official ceremonies held in the Grand Harbour, in which the presence of the Grand Master was required. It was rowed by nine men on each side and was rigged with two lateen sails.
An entire room is dedicated to traditional Maltese seacraft and other objects that illustrates popular traditions and Malta's long-standing maritime affiliation.
In the next area, known as the Customs Hall, there are a number of standard weights and measures and other objects including the uniform of an Inspector of Marine Police.
The British Royal Navy was, for nearly 180 years a significant presence in Malta. Indeed, the island was the home of the British Mediterranean Fleet. This fact is recognised in a further hall dedicated to this period with an impressive display of British naval memorabilia. This includes a gun deck, an original figurehead from HMS Hibernia and a range of naval weapons. The other part of this hall reflects the intangible heritage the British Navy left on the Maltese Islands. There is a section on the dockyard, and another on the naval hospital of Bighi. Artefacts record sports that were introduced into Malta by the navy, like boat races and football. A new addition to this particular section is a faithful reconstruction of a Music Hall, where British servicemen used to spend many of their off-duty hours. All of this attests to the navy's impact on the economy and social life of the Maltese Islands during its stay here.
The final hall presents an overview of Malta as a naval base, and depicts aspects of naval and civilian life, with the increasing importance of leisure emphasised.
The popularity of the museum can be discerned from the fact that between 20,000 and 25,000 visitors make the trip to Vittoriosa to take a stroll around the National Maritime Museum annually.
Interest in the museum is considerable, but helping to promote it is an organisation called: The Friends of the Maritime Museum. They do a very good job in keeping the museum's profile as high as possible. There is an annual membership fee of €11.65, whereas senior citizens pay just €6.99. Anyone wishing to join this organisation can do so by contacting
The Secretary,
Friends of the Maritime Museum,
c/o Malta Maritime Museum,
Ex-Naval Bakery, Vittoriosa
or by sending an e-mail to pem@onvol.net