Grand Harbour, Malta, 1926

Panoramic view of the Grand Harbour, taken from the northern (Valletta) side, probably the Upper Barracca Gardens, and comprising five juxtaposed prints (1,433 x 200 mm overall). The left and right-hand prints bear the embossed stamp 'S.I. Cassar, Photographer, Malta'.
On the extreme left of the panorama are the Lower Barracca Gardens (Fort St Elmo, beyond, is not visible) showing Grecian style monument to Sir Alexander Ball (1757-1809), Malta's first British governor. Opposite, on Rinella Point at the southern side of the Harbour entrance, is Fort Ricasoli. Passing along the southern side of Grand Harbour, the panorama then takes in Bighi Naval Hospital, Fort St Angelo with Vittoriosa behind it, Cospicua in the distance, and the third of the 'Three Cities', Senglea, with its distinctive look-out post at the end of its fortifications. Next are Corradino Heights, and the inner reaches of the Harbour towards the Marsa, but this part of the photograph is feint either through fading or because of distance. On the extreme right, returning to Valletta, is a sentry box forming part of Francesco Laparelli's fortifications. Several ships are identified on the back of the photograph in pencil. Four are battleships. Off Corradino are HMS 'Iron Duke', flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet, and HMS 'Malaya'. HMS 'Benbow' is off Bighi, with HMS 'Emperor of India' nearer the harbour entrance; 'Benbow' and 'Emperor of India' were of the 'Iron Duke' class; 'Malaya' of the 'Queen Elizabeth' class. Behind HMS 'Emperor of India' is a liner, 'Princess Marguerite', on which no information is available. There are numerous other warships at anchor, but no more are identified.

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Given by John Falconer.

Includes index.

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

This collection level description was entered by SG using information from the original typescript catalogue.

Cassar, S I, fl 1926, photographer