Construction of Fort Saint Rocco started in 1872 or 1873 by the British Empire as part of a fortification improvement programme recommended in a report published by Colonel Jervois in 1866. It was built on the land which served as the battery of Saint Rocco during the French blockade, situated between the battery of Rinella […]

Bighi Royal Naval Hospital had its own cemetery within its boundaries. The cemetery and some of the hospital grounds were redeveloped for a housing project in 1967 and any remains were removed from Bighi in December 1966. A gravestone at the Commonwealth Cemetery states: ‘This stone stands in memory of those originally interred in the […]

This cemetery is the oldest Jewish burial ground in Malta. It is located at the beginning of Rinella Street, surrounded by houses and measuring approximately 9 meters by 12 meters. The burial ground is 2.50 meters above road level indicating structural changes during the years. The present entrance consists of a narrow wooden door leading […]

In 1915 the naval hospitals of Malta had more than 135,000 patients, both sick and wounded, mainly due to the battles of Gallipoli and Thessaloniki. In addition as from 1917 fewer hospital ships were being sent to Malta. Following this, Kalkara Naval Cemetry was established in Saint Rocco Street, and was substantialy utilised for those […]

The Bighi Cot Lift was built in a Victorian architectural style in 1903 and was used to transfer injured sailors from naval ships to the wards of the Royal Naval Hospital Bighi. Situated 25 metres above sea level, it was the second electrical lift to be installed on the Maltese Islands. Damaged during the Second […]