The cemetery is close to Portes des Bombes on the right hand side of the road going up from Pieta` to Valletta.

From 1800 onwards the British used a group of cemeteries in the Floriana bastions for their burials. By 1857 when these became virtually full, the need was felt for a new cemetery and the Ta’ Braxia area was selected.

The Ta’ Braxia cemetery was designed by architect Emanuele Luigi Galizia who was only 25 years old at the time. Later he was responsible for the much larger Addolorata Cemetery in Paola.

By Government Notice dated 9 October 1857, the Governor appointed a committee for the management of Ta’ Braxia Cemetery stating that the cemetery was open to all religions for the purpose of interment and that their recognised ministers may officiate at funerals, and when within the cemetery.

The cemetery is the property of the Maltese government and it is under the supervision of the Department of Health. Full details of interments are kept at the office of the Addolorata Cemetery. Din l-Art Helwa has also published “A Visitor’s Guide” researched and written by Alan Keighley together with a supplement of a complete list of burials from 31 October 1857 to 31 December 2000.

The unique Ta’ Braxia Cemetery Chapel was built in 1893 as a memorial to Rachel Gordon, wife of Governor Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon, also known as Lord Stanmore.

With its magnificent vaults and elaborate monuments, Ta’ Braxia cemetery is certainly a place of historical interest. The remains of residents of various nationalities lie here. According to “A Visitor’s Guide” many clergymen, members of the British Army and Navy, and British residents who made Malta their second home are buried here. Amongst others, also lie buried distinguished Russian refugees who fled the Russian Revolution of 1917, members of the 14th British Regiment who died in Malta during the outbreak of cholera in 1867, and British civilians and servicemen who lost their lives during World War II.

Bombing during World War II damaged several of the larger ornamental monuments at Ta’ Braxia, and the blasts flattened many headstones. Later, the cemetery was neglected with the result that vegetation became overgrown and all sorts of rubbish were dumped.

In 2000 Din l-Art Helwa recognized the need to reinstate the cemetery to a presentable condition. In partnership with the Department of Health, a Restoration Committee was set up to renovate and improve the appearance of the cemetery. In 2001 an association named the “Friends of Ta’ Braxia” was set up as an arm of Din l-Art Helwa. It assumed responsibility to promote further research, identify family connections and to help fund continued restoration and maintenance of monuments.

The first task was to cut down the overgrown foliage to uncover the tombs and graves. This exposed further the amount of rubbish dumped over the years. Once this refuse was cleared, volunteers had the task to renovate the dislodged gravestones and the assembling of shattered inscriptions.

The association, in partnership with the Department of Health, has since coordinated the maintenance of monuments and the cemetery. Works carried out in the chapel included the renovation of the oak doors. Regular gardening keeps the cemetery tidy and controls overgrowth.

Funds were provided by the Department of Health, Din l-Art Helwa and the Friends’ constant involvement to obtain financial support. Without their voluntary work the cemetery would very quickly deteriorate into an overgrown derelict site.

However, the memorial chapel is in urgent need of restoration. Many of the roof timbers and some external stone structure have decayed or eroded to such an extent that intervention has now become a matter of urgency. Restoration needs to be undertaken sooner rather than later.

Mr Rizzo is the

Hon. Treasurer of

Din l-Art Helwa