Forni della Signoria explained

Forni della Signoria
Native Name:Bakery of the Order
Coordinates:35.8981°N 14.5108°W
Status:Demolished
Building Type:Bakehouse
Architectural Style:Mannerism
Location:Valletta, Malta
Completion Date: 1583–1584
Demolition Date:1926
Owner:Treasury of the Order (1580s–1798)
French Republic (1798–1800)
British Government (1814–1921)
Maltese Government (1921–1926)
Material:Limestone
Floor Count:3
Architect:Girolamo Cassar

The Forni della Signoria (Maltese: L-Ifran tas-Sinjurija;[1] English: Bakeries of the Grandmaster) was a bakehouse in Valletta, Malta. It was constructed in the late 16th century by the Order of St John, and it consisted of a number of bakeries which produced bread for the inhabitants of Valletta and the surrounding area, as well as for the Order's garrison and navy.

It remained in use by the French and later the British militaries, until a new Royal Naval Bakery was opened in Birgu in 1845. The bakery was subsequently converted into stores, before falling into disrepair. The building was demolished in the early 20th century to make way for Vincenti Buildings. The bakery gave its name to Old Bakery Street, one of the main streets of Valletta.

History

Background

The first prominent bakeries for the Order were built in Birgu in 1545.[2] In 1566 Architect Francesco Laparelli designed a plan for a new city, Valletta, where all public and prominent buildings were to be in a reserved area. Among these buildings were the Forni della Sacra Religione.[3] [4]

Small individual bakeries were first built on site, which had existed since the 1570s. These bakeries were built during the magistracy of Grand Master Jean de la Cassière at his own expense, and were known in Italian as the Forni pubblici della religione (Public Bakeries of the Religion).[5] The bakeries were among the first erected buildings in Valletta. According to Leonard Mahoney (1988), similar to the first buildings of Valletta, these bakeries were built for convenience of the first wave of workers and migrants rather than keeping also in mind the aesthetic appeal of architecture. Thus, these bakeries can be considered to have had a vernacular architecture to a certain extent.[6]

The reserved area, generally known as the collachio, was toyed about for years and was eventually abandoned as it proved not practical for business, administration and the rest of inhabitants of the city.[4] [7] [8] However, more or less, the mentioned buildings occupied the designated area.[3]

Construction and use

The Order's bakery was being planned by 1582[9] and an engraving by Matteo Perez d’Aleccio of Valletta including the planned bakery was drawn up that year. The building was marked as Il Forno d.la Signoria et l’Armaria, meaning part of the building had to also include an armoury to serve in case of a siege.[10] This also because it was mainly intended to serve the military.[11] It was eventually built in around 1583[12] or 1584, during the magistracy of Grand Master Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle.[13] The building was designed by Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar,[14] who also designed many other buildings in Valletta.[15] As planned, the building was used primarily for the making of bread, while another part of the edifice was used as an armoury or ferreria.[13] Other food products from similar ingredients of bread, such as biscuits, were also made.[16] In the 17th century a mill room was added to the building.[17]

The building was property of the Treasury of the Order, and under the responsibility of the Castellan.[18] The building was rented, each part to different owners, however was administered by one person known as Commendatore dei Forni (Bakeries’ Commander). The owners were to sell bread at an established price. The bakery produced most of the bread for the inhabitants of Valletta and Floriana, as well as for the Order's hospital, prison, galleys and garrison.[19] [20]

Some of the expenses for the operation of the bakery were relieved as a number of slaves were engaged in forced unpaid labour.[21] Only trusted slaves were allowed to work at the bakery. However, after the revolt of the slaves during the magistry of Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca, none of the slaves were trusted in important buildings such as the bakery which provided traditional everyday food.[22] The incident followed by a shortage of bakers in Valletta that villages bakers were ordered to do so on site and those who refused to bake bread in the city were jailed by the Castellania for a roughly a week.[23] [24]

During the French occupation of Malta, the bakery was used to produce bread for the French garrison, and it was heavily guarded during the blockade of 1798–1800. At this point, the street where the bakery was located, originally called Strada San Giovanni Battista,[25] was renamed Rue des Fours after the bakery.[26] It was later known as Strada Forni in Italian during the early British period,[25] and since 1926 it has been called Old Bakery Street. It is known as Triq il-Fran or Triq l-Ifran in Maltese, but it is still commonly called Strada Forni by Valletta residents.[27] [28] This means that the bakery gives the name to a main street in the capital Valletta.[13]

At some point, during the British period, the building became known as the Forni Regii[13] or the Majesty’s Bakery. It was also known as The King’s Bakery. In 1824 the upper floor, which housed the armoury, was handed over to the British military.[29] The bakery remained in use throughout the early 19th century, supplying bread to the British military.[30] The British Army prominently used it as a colonial department, which stored and supplied food for the troops stationed in Mallta, better known as the Commissariat. The British also used it for the grinding of corn.[25]

It fell out of use when the Royal Naval Bakery was opened in Birgu in 1845.[31] It was initially used as stores, but the building fell into a state of disrepair. An English boy is said to have died when part of the building collapsed while he was playing there.

Demolition

The bakery was demolished in 1926.[32] The Times of Malta published an article accompanied with a photo to inform the general public that the bakery was demolished and not destroyed by war. The newspaper stated:

No! this building has not suffered from an aerial bombardment; it is the Knights' Bakery in Old Bakery Street that is in the process of demolition to make way for a better and more imposing building.

Redevelopment and remains

In the mid-1930s the site was purchased by the architect Gustavo R. Vincenti.[33] He raised a Modernism (Art Nouveau[34] or simply an Art Deco[35]) block, known as Vincenti Buildings after its architect in 1938.[36] Vincenti Buildings were damaged during WWII but were faithfully repaired to the original design.[37] [38] [39] Some of the residences have been converted into offices.

In March 2010, Enemalta workers uncovered remains of the bakery's foundations during paving works in Strait Street.[40] The remains consist of sections of a wall up to four courses high and laid on bedrock.[41] Other remains were also found at Melita Street across Old Bakery Street.[42] A detailed wooden model of the bakery, probably dating back to the British period, is found at the Heritage Malta reserve collection at the Inquisitor's Palace in Birgu.[43] [44]

Architecture

The bakery of the Order was located on a city block bordered by Old Bakery, Melita, St. John and Strait streets.[45] [40] [46] Its main façade was in Old Bakery Street facing the Church of St. Augustine,[19] [20] and it consisted of a central bay with two sloped roofs, with three-storey high sections on either side.[43] It had imposing corners, typical of Architect Cassar,[14] which were characterised by large rusticated pilasters to support the massive building.[45]

The façade was asymmetric and had no moulding.[45] It contained two main doorways, but there were other entrances in Strait Street.[43] The exterior was plain, contrasting with other Valletta buildings, however this was typical when built. Though the exterior may not have had any aesthetically pleasing features, the interior was spacious and adequate for its purpose.[30] Similar to other prominent buildings, the bakery was provided with water from the Wignacourt Aqueduct.[47] [48] The building did not suffer damage during the 1693 Sicily earthquake though, as documented, the surrounding buildings did.[49]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Cassar Pullicino . Joseph . The Order of St. John in Maltese folk-memory . Scientia . October–December 1949 . 15 . 4 . 162 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160417173522/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Scientia%20%28Malta%29/Scientia.%2015%281949%294%28Oct.-Dec.%29/01.pdf . 17 April 2016 . dead .
  2. Web site: Dawra Kulturali . 2018 . www.um.edu.mt/library . PDF. 2020-12-31.
  3. Book: Enrico. Guidoni. Angela. Marino. 1982. Storia dell'urbanistica: il cinquecento. Laterza. 16. it. 602. 11238601.
  4. Melita Theologica. Bianco. Lino. 1995. Valletta: A city in history. 60. 2. University of Malta. 9–11. https://web.archive.org/web/20180319195031/https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/handle/123456789/15640/Valletta%20-%20A%20city%20in%20history_A5.pdf. 19 March 2018. 1012-9588. 1587122.
  5. Book: 1853. Storia dei Gran Maestri e cavalieri di Malta con note e documenti giustificativi dall'epoca della fondazione dell'ordine a' tempi attuali. From the Library of Modern and Contemporary History. 3. it. Rome. 456.
  6. Book: Mahoney, Leonard. 1988. A History of Maltese Architecture: from Ancient Times up to 1800. Veritas Press. Żabbar. 150. 224662095. B0006EXLGK.
  7. Book: Bouet, Ryan W.. 2001. The Story of Valletta: A Companion to the City. Allied Publications. 11–20. 9789990931297.
  8. Book: Bugeja. Jennifer Rose. Vanessa. Ciantar. Formosa. Christian. 2017. Valletta my city, my story: as told by Jean de Vallette. Heritage Malta. 48. 9789993257493.
  9. Book: Spiteri, Stephen C.. 2003. Armoury of the Knights. An Armoury in Valletta. Midsea Books. 67. 99932-39-33-X.
  10. Proceedings of History Week. Ganado. Albert. 1984. Matteo Perez d'Aleccio's engravings of the Siege of Malta 1565. Malta Historical Society. 125–161. 2017-07-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20160301143042/http://mhs.eu.pn/hw/hw19838.html. 2016-03-01. dead.
  11. Book: Castagna, P. P.. 1865. Malta bil chzejer tehne u li ghadda min ghaliha. 2. Malta: s.n.. 112. mt.
  12. Book: Dal Pozzo, Bartolomeo. 1703. Historia della sacra religione militare di S. Giouanni Gerosolimitano detta di Malta, del signor commendator Fr. Bartolomeo Co. Dal Pozzo veronese, caualier della medesima: Parte prima che proseguisce quella di Giacomo Bosio dall'anno 1571 fin' al 1636. 1. per Giouanni Berno. it. Verona. 205. 801215558.
  13. Book: Ferris, Archille. 1881. Memorie dell' inclito Ordine gerosolimitano esistenti nelle isole di Malta. Tip. di C. Busuttil. it. 9781168127242. 642909207. 207.
  14. 1967. Atti del XV Congresso di storia dell'architettura Congresso di storia dell'architettura. Proceedings of the XV Congress of Architecture History Congress of Architectural History. Centro di studi per la storia dell'architettura. it. 15. 1564788.
  15. Contributions in Military Studies. Castillo. Dennis Angelo. 2006. The Maltese Cross: A Strategic History of Malta. Greenwodd Publishing Group. 81–82. 229. 9780313323294. 470553071. 0883-6884.
  16. Melita Historica. Grima. Joseph F.. 2001. The Rowers on the Order's Galleys (c. 1600-1650). 13. 2. 125. 1021-6952. 2018-02-18. 2016-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20160416144828/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Melita%20Historica/MH.13(2000-03)/MH.13(2001)2/01.pdf. dead.
  17. Book: Cassar, Carmel. 1996. Witchcraft, Sorcery, and the Inquisition: A Study of Cultural Values in Early Modern Malta. Mireva Publications. Msida. 84–85 (plates XXI-XXII). 9781870579476. 36885502.
  18. Web site: Abela. Giovanni Francesco. 1772. Malta illustrata... accresciuta dal Cte G.A. Ciantar. Mallia. it. 324.
  19. Denaro . Victor F. . Houses in Kingsway and Old Bakery Street, Valletta . Melita Historica . 1959 . 2 . 4 . 210 . Malta Historical Society . https://web.archive.org/web/20160509142600/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Melita%20Historica/MH.02%281956-59%29/MH.2%281959%294/orig01.pdf . 9 May 2016 . dead .
  20. Book: Van Den Bossche. Bart. Bastiaensen. Michel. Lonergan. Corinna Salvadori. 2000. Soavi sapori della cultura italiana: atti del 13. Congresso dell'A.I.P.I., Verona, Soave, 27-29 agosto 1998. Soavi Sapori della Cucina dei Cavalieri di Malta. Firenze Cesati. it. 129. 9788876671005. 248752154.
  21. Book: Wettinger, Godfrey. Slavery in the Islands of Malta and Gozo ca. 1000–1812. Publishers Enterprises Group. 2002. 320–322. 978-99909-0-316-4.
  22. Book: Cutajar, Tony C.. 2011. Mewt Lil Pinto!. Lulu. mt. 105. 978-1-4478-4179-1. 941694707.
  23. Proceeding of History Week. Buttigieg. Noel. 2009. Is Bread Male or Female? Gender and Power Relations. 12. 7. Malta Historical Society and Midsea Books. 101. https://web.archive.org/web/20160301142710/http://mhs.eu.pn/hw/hw200907.html. 1 March 2016. 978-99932-7-400-1. dead.
  24. Journal of the History of the Order of St John. Buttigieg. Noel. 2014. Cassar George. Bread and the City: 1740-1798. Sacra Militia Foundation. Mosta. 13. 4. 9787999016069. 2306-8272. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223223009/http://www.mireva.com/DetailPanel.aspx?Id=25519691. 23 December 2017.
  25. Web site: Knights Hospitallers of the Ven. Tongue of England in Malta. A.. Mifsud. December 31, 1980. New York: AMS Press. Internet Archive.
  26. Book: Bonello, Giovanni. 2000. Histories of Malta. 1. Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti. 38, 40. 9789993210016.
  27. News: Chetcuti. Kristina. Where the streets have four names. Times of Malta. 1 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160719173335/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150601/local/where-the-streets-have-four-names.570511. 19 July 2016.
  28. Book: Borzesi, Giuseppe Pericciuoli. 1830. The historical guide to the island of Malta and its dependencies. Government Press. 51.
  29. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Collection. 1877. Statement of all the property transferred to the military and naval authorities from the year 1816 to the end of 1875 with appendix. University of Mancestor. 60231726. 8, 21. 2018-03-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20180304172532/http://dl.docslide.com.br/download/e996ebc0c594ab2c075bf51082e0afbad1243ef61bd876d9ae865c8b12de9684c8f9fccc78f865b350321ff1cdf352c6957a84cdc5c65fd94ac0c0b365bad1f9y3fwCsiz24XCetjkf22h8s%2FKaj0I4xb%2FgkFlqUAHAVSYhM40YeP668ASgtqXSjsjDbOjBw5weyvCKHdsXgIMP%2FQQYWihmzZLujG3HetnnZeq9uIE4woKeLhdOJosFg4r. 2018-03-04. dead.
  30. Book: Riland Bedford, William Kirkpatrick. 1905. Malta and the Knights Hospitallers. Seeley and co., Limited. 15910350. 53–54. https://archive.org/stream/maltaandknights00bedfgoog/maltaandknights00bedfgoog_djvu.txt. 28 October 2008.
  31. Book: Vassallo, Giovanni Antonio. Storia di Malta. 1854. Tip. Francesco Cumbo. 390.
  32. Melita Historica. Mangion. Giovanni. Girolomo Cassar: Architetto Maltese del Cinquecento. 6. 2. 1975. 195. 2017-07-11. 2016-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20160416133159/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Melita%20Historica/MH.06%281972-75%29/MH.6%281972%292/orig07.pdf. dead.
  33. The Architect. David Felice. Said. Edward. The Architecture of Gustavo R. Vincenti (1888-1974). Media Today. 18–19. https://web.archive.org/web/20180120061815/https://kamratalperiti.org/wp-content/uploads/tA037.pdf. 20 January 2018.
  34. Web site: Benoit. Maie. 28 February 2014. Marie Benoit's Diary. Independent.com.mt. https://web.archive.org/web/20161009233056/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-01-28/newspaper-lifestyleculture/Marie-Benoit's-Diary-3807870980. 9 October 2016.
  35. Web site: Said. Edward. 2011. Architects who built Sliema - Perit Alberto La Ferla (1898-1942). Architecture XV. https://web.archive.org/web/20180120124603/http://www.axv.com.mt/literature/architects-who-built-sliema-perit-alberto-la-ferla-1898-1942/. 20 January 2018.
  36. Web site: June 2016. A Strategy for Valletta: Public Consultation Draft. Planning Authority. 17.
  37. Book: Joseph . Bonnici . Michael . Cassar . 2004 . A Chronicle of Twentieth Century Malta . Books Distributors Limited . 151 . 978-999097227-6.
  38. Book: Abela, Tony. 2014. Malta's Early Warning System During World War II. SKS. Hamrun. 479–489. 9789993217312. 889717045.
  39. Mirabelli. Terence. 2015. The ANZAC experience in Malta - Arrival. 2, 5, 6. The Island Publications Ltd. https://web.archive.org/web/20160316172504/http://malta.embassy.gov.au/files/mlta/one%20ANZAC%20experience%20-%20Arrival.pdf. 16 March 2016. Ta’ Xbiex.
  40. News: Foundations of knights' bakery believed found in Strait Street. Times of Malta. 17 March 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160719175633/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100317/local/trenching.298508. 19 July 2016.
  41. News: Wall unearthed in Valletta 'could be' foundations of Knights' bakery. Times of Malta. 18 March 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160718194534/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100318/local/wall-unearthed-in-valletta-could-be-foundations-of-knights-bakery.298699. 18 July 2016.
  42. Raymomd. Scicluna. Annual Report 2016 Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. Dokument imqiegħed fuq il-Mejda tal-Kamra tad-Deputati fis-Seduta. It-Tnax-Il Legislatura. Numru 501. 3 April 2017. Ministru għall-Ġustizzja, Kultura u Gvern Lokali. mt. 23–24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180916192403/https://www.parlament.mt/media/88791/08699.pdf. 16 September 2018.
  43. News: Darmanin. Denis. The bakeries in Valletta of the Order of the Knights of St John. Times of Malta. 25 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160719180807/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150125/life-features/The-bakeries-in-Valletta-of-the-Order-of-the-Knights-of-St-John.553517. 19 July 2016.
  44. Book: Vella, Godwin. 2016. Valletta 1566: Melita Renascens. Heritage Malta. 125. 9789993257387.
  45. The Tiranti. Hughes. Quintin. 1956. The Building of Malta During the Period of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem: 1530-1795. A. Tiranti. 183–184. 6.
  46. More information available in source. Playfair. Robert Lambert. Handbook to the Mediterranean. 2. J. Murray. 1881. 63–64.
  47. Giornale Cattolico. Fiteni. Leopoldo. 21 May 1841. Le conversazioni di Filoteo. From the National Central Library of Rome. it. Senglea. 46.
  48. Book: Frendo, Henry. 1997. Attard - The Life of a Maltese Casale. Attard Local Council. 35–38. 2020-01-08. 2022-03-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20220320013143/https://localgovernment.gov.mt/en/lc/Attard/Documents/ATTARD%20-%20The%20Life%20of%20a%20Maltese%20Casale.PDF. dead.
  49. Book: Gangemi. 1999. Annali del barocco in Sicilia. it. 6. Centro internazionale di studi sul barocco in Sicilia. 61. 9788849203011. 32146636. 1125-9205.

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