The Devil's Farmhouse

The Devil's Farmhouse

View of The Devil's Farmhouse
General information
Status Intact
Type Farmhouse
Stables
Horse-riding school
Architectural style Vernacular
Location Mellieha, Malta[1]
Coordinates 35°57′21″N 14°20′59″E / 35.95583°N 14.34972°E / 35.95583; 14.34972
Named for The devil
Completed 18th century
Owner Government of Malta
Technical details
Material Limestone
Floor count 1
Design and construction
Architect Unknown

The Devil's Farmhouse, also known in Maltese as Ir-Razzett tax-Xitan,[2] and officially as Ir-Razzett Tax-Xjaten (The Farmhouse of the Devils),[3] is an 18th century farmhouse in Mellieha, Malta.[4] The farmhouse features two unconnected buildings. The original scope for the buildings were to function as stables and a horse-riding school (Cavalerizza). At one point the buildings were converted into farmhouses between different farmers, and the buildings underwent some structural changes.[5] It is presently in a dilapidated state. A national Maltese myth claims the farmhouse was built by the devil, for which it derives its historic name.

History

The Devil's Farmhouse was built in the 18th-century[6] during the Order of St. John to be partially used as a traditional farmhouse and partially as a horse stable. It is found in an area known as Ta' Randa[7] very close to L-Ghar ta' Zamberat (Ta' Zamberat's Cave). The farmhouse stands away from urban development in isolation. Attributed to the farmhouse is a Maltese myth that the farmhouse was built by the devil (or devils) in one day (or three days).[8][9][10] The only architectural feature that gives the impression of relating to demonic icons are the two enclosed staircases, that lead to the roof of the stable, which are suggested to appear as two horns.[11][12]

There is also a traditional carnival song (or poem) that mentions Ta' Randa and the devil. The song (or poem) named Il-Karnival goes to say as the following:

Għax illum il-Karnival

Għax il-festa tax-xitan
Ix-xitan irid ikanta
Għandu denbu daqs ta' Randa.[13][14]

Very roughly translated, this text announces the feast of the devil at the site.

Architecture

The farmhouse has a simple and modest vernacular architecture,[15] with slit windows, that function as ventilators, and waterspouts. It has no inscriptions or symbols to shed further information about its use apart from some roman numbers (i.e. I, II, III) that were inscribed when it was a farmhouse. These are found on the walls and woods, and record the sale of products (different types of vegetables) of farmers with lack of education.[16] The features of the building are good examples of Maltese traditional architecture that include, roofs built with limestone slabs and animal feeding mangers. Despite the conversion to a farmhouse the building clearly does not resemble to be originally built to be used as such as it is not a traditional Maltese farm building.[17] This and the position of the mangers (feed-trough) prove that the building was built for horses. These characteristics may suggest that the building may had been a possibly cow farm. The high roof of one of the buildings still prove that it was unlikely to be built originally as a cow farm, but it may be speculative to say that at one point it had been so.[18][19][20] The farmhouse features two separate unconnected buildings that may have been built during different periods. At the site, within the front of the farmhouse, stand two traditional giren which are built for bird hunting. The building was used as a hunting lodge[21] and as a horse-riding school (Cavalerizza)[22] by the knights to keep their horses inside.[23]

Other later additions inside the building are the wooden beams that were introduced to support the limestone slabs. The farmhouse is in a dilapidated state and is in need of restoration. Some of the roofs already collapsed while other are expected to collapse unless intervention takes place.[24]

Cultural Heritage

The farmhouse is a national monument of architectonical significance.[25] The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) has scheduled it as grade 1 national monument,[26][27] that protects it from being demolished, altered or further developed but allowing the reconstruction of damaged parts.[28] The building is listed as part of the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands (NICPMI).[29][30]

Gallery

The Devil's Farmhouse
  1. ^ Camilleri, Alex, "Il-Mellieha u madwarna", p. 167.

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ MEPA (June 2016). "North West Local Plans". Public Consultancy Draft. Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).
  2. ↑ Zammit, Anne (2014), "Farmers and fireworks don’t mix", Times of Malta.
  3. ↑ Muscat, David (2013), "Mill-Migja tal-Gharab sa tmiem il-hakma tal-Ordni ta' San Gwann" Imperial Band Club, p.142.
  4. ↑ Huxley, Michael (1986), "The Geographical Magazine, Volume 58", Geographical Press, p. 314.
  5. ↑ Mahoney, Leonardo (1996). 5,000 years of Architecture in Malta. Malta: Valletta Publishing. Format. p. 124. ISBN 9990958157. ISBN 9789990958157.
  6. ↑ Huxley, Michael (1986), "The Geographical Magazine, Volume 58", Geographical Press, p. 314.
  7. ↑ "Ir-Razzett tax-Xitan"
  8. ↑ Camilleri, Alex, "Il-Mellieha u madwarna", p. 167.
  9. ↑ Evarist Bartolo, "The Legend of the Farmhouse the Devils Built", Malta Inside Out.
  10. ↑ Muscat, David (2013), "Mill-Migja tal-Gharab sa tmiem il-hakma tal-Ordni ta' San Gwann" Imperial Band Club, p.142.
  11. ↑ "Ir-Razzett tax-Xitan"
  12. ↑ Camilleri, Alex, "Il-Mellieha u madwarna", p. 167.
  13. ↑ Fenech, Doris, "Maltese Carnival".
  14. ↑ Fenech, Doris, "Maltese Carnival".
  15. ↑ Tabone, Timothy (2 March 2014), "Reject the application for fireworks factory". Times of Malta.
  16. ↑ Mahoney, Leonardo (1996). 5,000 years of Architecture in Malta. Malta: Valletta Publishing. Format. p. 124. ISBN 9990958157. ISBN 9789990958157.
  17. ↑ Mahoney, Leonardo (1996). 5,000 years of Architecture in Malta. Malta: Valletta Publishing. Format. p. 123. ISBN 9990958157. ISBN 9789990958157.
  18. ↑ Mahoney, Leonardo (1996). 5,000 years of Architecture in Malta. Malta: Valletta Publishing. Format. p.124. ISBN 9990958157. ISBN 9789990958157.
  19. ↑ Evarist Bartolo, "The Legend of the Farmhouse the Devils Built", Malta Inside Out.
  20. ↑ "Ir-Razzett tax-Xitan"
  21. ↑ Evarist Bartolo, "The Legend of the Farmhouse the Devils Built", Malta Inside Out.
  22. ↑ "Ir-Razzett tax-Xitan"
  23. ↑ Camilleri, Alex, "Il-Mellieha u madwarna", p. 167.
  24. ↑ Said, Edward (2011), "Collapse of Naxxar building", Times of Malta.
  25. ↑ Said, Edward (2012), "Government urged to protect historic building facing collapse", Times of Malta.
  26. ↑ "Gazzetta tal-Gvern ta' Malta", Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).
  27. ↑ Tabone, Timothy (2 March 2014), "Reject the application for fireworks factory". Times of Malta.
  28. ↑ Zammit, Anne (2014), "Farmers and fireworks don’t mix", Times of Malta.
  29. ↑ "Ir-Razzett tax-Xitan"
  30. ↑ Unknown (30 December 2012). "125 properties on National Inventory of the Cultural Property". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, May 06, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.