SENGLEA THROUGH THE AGES - 29 & 30
When Senglea had its ships, masters and sailors
Captain Salvatore Ruggier, in a document kept at the National Library in Valletta, left us a lot of information about that period in time when our forefathers used to earn their living plying their trade on the high seas.
On the way to Corradino, near the Cospicua tunnel, there was a shop dug out in the rocks. It was a central meeting place for the people who used to work on ships. This place was looked up as a meeting place and as a place where one could have a cup of coffee, some wine or other drinks available then.
Going down to Cospicua there were other shops dug out in the rocks. They used to see lot of material connecting with the shipping trade, such as ropes, paint and iron or wooden objects needed at sea.
Where this row of shops ended there was a huge building belonging to Lorenzo German Debarro and sons. This building was so equipped that one could build a galley there in fact it was called Tal-Gifen (the Galley building). It was the dry-docks of those days. During the first years of the British in Malta, the Admiralty used to at times, even lend tools to the workmen at this complex.
The road was not properly formed then but the workmen levelled it up leading up to the tunnel. In the stretch between the mentioned building and the Cospicua tunnel galleys could berth. Small galleys carrying coal and vegetables used to berth near the wharf close to the tunnels. Along the wharf one could find stalls where one could buy coal for private use. All this was possible after our forefathers levelled the rock and made it possible for people to walk all along the wharf as near the galleys as possible.
At Corradino there was a small church dedicated to St Francis de Paule, who is the patron of sailors. The sailors from Senglea used to give small donations so that once a year the feast of St Francis could be celebrated. The area used to be lit up with lots of candles and competition to climb a slippery pole (gostra) was held. A priest used to hold a sermon at the door of the church. The wharf and the ships used to be decorated with flags for the occasion.
This creek was called Tal-Francizi (of the French). The people of Senglea were extremely mad when the Admiralty took it over so that the dockyard could be built there. Many people from Senglea used to earn their living from this busy hub. The masters of the ships used to import all the essential goods needed by the people of Malta and used to unload them here. When the area was eventually converted into the dockyard, all links Senglea had with Cospicua and Corradino were completely cut off.
SENGLEA THROUGH THE AGES - 30
Dun Ang Raggio was afraid that the Government was going to take possession of the convent of St Philip.
On the 8th October 1915, Dun Ang Raggio, provost of the Philippines, informed his superiors about some plan that was being hewed re the convent of St Philip. We are glad of this report by Dun Ang Raggio which is preserved at the archives of the church of Senglea, so that the events of those days would not be forgotten as time goes by.
On the 22nd September 1915, Dun Ruzar Balzan went to speak to Dun Ang Raggio who was undergoing a spiritual retreat at St Aloysius College in Birkirkara. Dun Ruzar Briffa informed Dun Ang that the headmaster of Senglea’s primary school had informed him that the Director of Primary Schools, Mr Reynolds expressed his desire to visit the convent of St Philip. Dun Ang did not like the idea at all and he smelt something fishy and so he asked Dun Ruzar to inform the Archbishop about this plan. Dun Ang suspected that the Education Department desired to take the Convent in its hands and turn it into a primary school.
The visit, though unwarranted, was held on the 7th October 1915. This definitely was not just a cordial unofficial visit. Present for the visit there were the Director of Primary Schools, Mr Reynolds, the school inspector, Mr Busuttil and the headmaster of Senglea’s school. They asked a lot of pertinent questions and wanted to know as much information about the place as possible. It was obvious that they had some plans in hand for this premises. The visit was made when Dun Ang, the provost was absent, but he was soon informed of what went on.
Dun Ang Raggio did not want to be held responsible in front of God and of the church for the loss of these premises. He was really convinced that the convent of St Philip was needed for the spiritual formation of the people of Senglea. He declared that in no way should this building be handed over to the civilian authorities in Malta. Dun Ang believed that if the church were to hand over the convent, the people of Senglea would turn against the priests, for the following reasons:
a) St Philip was a historical place with lots of memories of days gone by attached to it;
b) Senglea deserved, like other localities, a premises where priests could be housed so that they could give their spiritual assistance when needed.
The Provost also said that if the people of Senglea were to take this takeover lying down it means that the clergy would have failed in teaching the citizens to defend what is theirs. If St Philip were to fall in the hands of the Civil Authorities, it would open the door for further similar take over of church properties by the Government.