Ta' Tabibu farmhouse

Ta' Tabibu Farmhouse

Ta' Tabibu farmhouse on an 1861 engraving

The Ta' Tabibu farmhouse is a building in St. Paul's Bay, Malta, which originally served as a militia watch post.

History

The role of the farmhouse was replaced by the Wignacourt Tower in 1610

Ta' Tabibu farmhouse was built in the 14th or 15th centuries as part of Malta's early network of coastal fortifications. It was manned by the Dejma, the local militia responsible for coastal defence. It is the oldest surviving building in St. Paul's Bay,^[1] with the exception of megalithic and Roman ruins such as Buġibba Temple and San Pawl Milqi.

The farmhouse was the only defensive building in St. Paul's Bay until the construction of the Wignacourt Tower in 1610. This tower was the first of a new network of coastal towers that were built in Malta in the 17th century.^[2]

In World War II, bombs fell in the area around the farmhouse, but did not hit the building itself. Today, the building remains intact but is in a dilapidated state.^[3]

Ecology and heritage

The area around the farmhouse has unique flora and fauna, and is protected by the Maltese authorities as an Out of Development Zone (ODZ), Area of Ecological Importance (AEI) and Site of Scientific Importance (SSI).^[2]

In 2010, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority refused to allow modern buildings to be built near the Ta' Tabibu farmhouse due to the area's ecological importance. This decision was welcomed by the hertage NGO Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar.^[2]

References

1. "Ta Tabibu Farmhouse". 8472cdn.biz (in German). Retrieved 28 August 2015.
2. "Development near oldest building in St Paul's Bay refused". Times of Malta. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
3. "Save Tabibu Farmhouse-Tower 14/15th century Malta". causes.com. Retrieved 27 September 2015.