| Msida Bastion Historic Garden (Garden of Rest) | |
| Established: | 1806 |
| Closed: | 1856 |
| Location: | Floriana, Malta |
| Coordinates: | 35.8958°N 14.5022°W |
| Style: | Neoclassical |
| Findagraveid: | 1966573/msida-bastion-cemetery |
The Msida Bastion Historic Garden, also Msida Bastion Cemetery or Msida Bastion Garden of Rest is a former Protestant cemetery in Floriana, Malta, in use from 1806 till 1856. It was restored and reopened as a garden in 2002. It is listed in the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands under number 52, as a Grade 1 Monument. Currently, Din l-Art Ħelwa are the caretakers of the Msida Bastions with a team of over 25 volunteers coordinated by the garden's Warden, all aiding in the general upkeep and research of the site.
The Cemetery lies within the former St Philip's Bastion, an outer fortification completed in 1653. Under the rule of the Order of Malta, the gallows stood on an area above the site.[1]
After the British Empire took control of the Maltese archipelago at the beginning of the 19th century, a non-Catholic cemetery for British sailors was laid out in 1806. St. Philip's Bastion was the ideal location for a Protestant cemetery due to its being outside the walls of Valletta, thus avoiding clashes with the sometimes fanatical Roman Catholic Maltese. Later, Anglican and Protestant soldiers, administrative officials, merchants and their family members, as well as other foreigners and some Maltese, found their final resting place there.[2]
The use of the cemetery ended around 1857 after the Ta' Braxia Cemetery in Gwardamanġa (Pietà) was established, however burials in existing graves would continue with the last known burial occurring in 1871.[3] In the second half of the century, the tombs fell into disrepair, with many of them being vandalised and robbed, the general area also became overgrown. In 1930, Captain Charles Zammit (son of Sir Themistocles Zammit) came to the cemetery to document the various tombs and names. Captain Zammit also created the first known plan of the cemetery, splitting it into 3 different sectors (A/B/C) and took various photographs. During the Second World War, the former cemetery also suffered several bomb hits, which damaged several graves and part of the bastion walls.[4]
Thanks to the fertile soil and the protected location, the Garden of Rest has developed into a refuge for plants and animals. Some of the trees there are more than 150 years old.[5]
Graves within the garden seem to follow a standard dimension, 6 feet deep by 7 feet long by 2 feet wide. The grave would be dug into the soil with part of it being dug into the stone. The debris from the excavation would be used to level the ground during the construction of the grave. It would be built out of Maltese Globigerina Limestone blocks and plastered with hydraulic lime. The floor of the grave is usually one foot of soil however, there are a few instances where the floor of the grave would also be made out of stone. Additionally, the grave would also have two thin, perpendicular stone blocks at the bottom for the coffin to rest on, thus making it easier for the undertakers to recover the ropes during burial. The grave would be sealed with 3 blocks, two large ones and one smaller one between them, hydraulic lime would be used to fill the gap.
Often people would be buried with their prized possessions and if they formed part of the military, in uniform. The coffins would also be adorned with metal plates showing designs of angels, bouquets of flowers along with the name of the deceased. The richer the deceased may have been, the more precious the items also buried in the grave. This unfortunately made them a frequent target of grave robbers. They would destroy the monument on top of the grave then, break through the three slabs sealing the grave and finally break through the coffin at which point they would find their treasure. Stories still exist to this day of grave robbers stealing swords and buttons from abandoned graves.
At least 528 people were buried here, according to the records. However, modern estimates put this number at over 900 individuals buried in the cemetery.The most elaborate tombs reflect the Neoclassic period in Malta, with ample use of forms taken from Greek and Roman styles (obelisks, pyramids, sarcophagi) and little use of crosses or other Christian symbols. There are only three crosses present in the Msida Bastion, one of which is the Orthodox Cross.
During the 80s, a national debate arose regarding the exact burial place of Mikiel Anton Vassalli after historians challenged the common belief that Vassalli was buried in a grave which now lies beneath the Excelsior Hotel in Floriana. Church records were brought to light which indicated that Vassalli was indeed buried in the Msida Bastion, however, no exact location within the cemetery was given. This new information sparked fresh interest in the site and in 1988, the then Minister of Education Ugo Mifsud Bonnici promised that the site would be restored and made available as a public garden. It was demarcated by a high wall and a gate to prevent vandalism. The restoration work, which was carried out by volunteers under the responsibility of the National Trust of Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa (headed by R.G. Kirkpatrick first and then by Andy Welsh), lasted until 2002 when it was awarded Europa Nostra's the silver medal.[8] A small Museum of Maltese Burial Practices was added in 2004 in the former Officers' Stable building.
In 2014 the National Geographic Society named Msida Bastion Cemetery one of the five most beautiful cemeteries in Europe: "Scattered-about benches offer the opportunity for reflection and a tranquil spot to take in the view of sailboats anchored at the marina below, verdant expanses of grass dotted with olive trees, palms, oleanders and ancient pines. Other botanical delights include colourful flower blooms - some visible year-round - such as hibiscus, oleander and blue Mexican petunias.".[9]
Currently, research into the site is still ongoing with the help of various Din l'Art Helwa volunteers. However, the original burial registry for the cemetery has been lost to time and so volunteers rely on finds within the cemetery itself and the archives of St Paul's Pro-Cathedral to piece together the rich history of the place.