Tuesday, 26th August 2008

One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (42)

New Fish Market at the Barriera

The site of the new fish market was the site of the former Barriera (barrier). This "barrier" was installed during the period of the Knights of St. John to quarantine those persons arriving by sea from any acquaintances who visited them while in quarantine. The quarantine area was demarcated by a barrier consisting of wooden barriers fitted in stone pillars and a few of these stone pillars may still be seen in the area.

At the Barriera a new fish market was built in 1937 following the design of Professor John Gatt, Director of Public Works following recommendations by the Fisheries Advisor J. Cornell in 1931. It was inaugurated on December 3, 1937 by Sir Charles Bonham Carter. The new fish market replaced an earlier one built by the Knights at the foot of Lascaris bastion. Its façade designed to match the Barriera Stores built earlier by Grand Master Perellos opposite the road. The new fish market façade is characterised by six bays of blind arches pierced by arched windows and oculi (round apertures) at the upper level. The bays are separated by pilasters at the top of which at roof level are spherical finials and the capitals merge with the cornice at roof level. The side elevations consists of three bays with similar treatment as that of the main façade, but with the central bay consisting of a large open archway with a receded first floor as offices. The roomy double height interior contains quarters on the first floor for the middleman or pitkali.

The new fish market was partly destroyed during World War II and the damage reconstructed soon after the end of hostilities and is still used for the same purpose.

Mepa scheduled the New Fish Market as a Grade 1 national monument as per Government Notice No. 276/08 in the Government Gazette dated March 28.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

veronica galea (on 26/8/08)

I think someone wrote about this before at the Times online, but it really would be helpful to have the exact street location of the buildings which are singled out for the One World column. A photo of course would be great. Without these bits of info, I find myself completely lost, unless I happen to be well acquainted with the building mentioned. This is a pity because the aim of One World is to bring the focus of attention to a particular location. If the location is unclear, the message is lost.