With reference to the letter by Denis Darmanin (The Sunday Times, November 14), Manoel Island was called Bishop’s Island because it was owned by the Cathedral Chapter. A part- exchange was carried out between the Bishop of Malta and the Grand Master.
During the Great Siege of 1565 this islet played a strategic role. The Turks used it to attack Fort St Elmo. It is said that Kandalissa, the Turkish leader, died there and was buried there too.
The chapel of St George was built after the Great Siege and not in 1813 during British rule, as Mr Darmanin wrote.
Grand Master Jean Paul Lascaris built the hospital for infectious diseases together with another complex for the hospital.
Grand Master Nicholas Cotoner enlarged it and imposed a strict quarantine law. So the quarantine was not imposed in 1592, as Mr Darmanin stated.
The architect of the Order, Fra Charles De Mondion, was buried in the crypt of St Anthony’s church at Manoel Island which he had built.