Pre-1862 villa in St Julian's given the highest level of protection

Careel House - one of the earliest villas built in St Julian's - has been given the highest level of protection by the planning authority. 

The building is believed to have served as an international intelligence centre under the British, hosted activities that led to the arrest and eventual exile of Italian sympathisers and saw the birth of the St Julian’s Scout Group.

On Thursday, the PA said that, in collaboration with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, it had scheduled the villa located in Triq il-Karmnu, St Julian’s, as a Grade 1 protected property. This is the highest level of protection afforded through the scheduling process. 

The property was recently at the centre of a planning dispute after proposals were filed to convert it into a boutique hotel and build two apartment blocks in its gardens.

The application, submitted by Mamdouh Altllas on behalf of AMIR Ltd, sought outline development permission (PA/08237/25).

The aim of scheduling is to ensure that any future development or alterations to the property and its surroundings are carried out sensitively, safeguarding the site’s important values for generations to come.

Photo: Planning Authority

The decision to schedule it follows research and documentation carried out by the superintendence, which identified the property’s significant historical, architectural, and social value.

Careel House is likely one of the earliest villas built in this locality. Historical Survey Sheets dating back to 1862 already show the villa together with its extensive gardens, indicating that the property existed well before this period.

Historical sources indicate that in the early 19th century, several noble families began constructing villas with large gardens in St Julian’s as their summer residences.

Over time, many of these families settled permanently in the area, gradually transforming what had once been a small fishing village into a more prominent residential locality.

The historical significance of Careel House, however, goes beyond its age. During the Second World War, the property was rented by the British forces under the command of Colonel Bertram Ede and was used as a national and international intelligence centre.

Activities carried out from this site reportedly led to the arrest and exile of several Italian sympathisers at a time when there was a political controversy over whether Italian or English should be Malta’s official language.

Architecturally, the villa features a simple and symmetrical façade typical of villas from that era, with traditional wooden apertures and an enclosed timber balcony.

The property is surrounded by high boundary walls that once enclosed its extensive gardens.

Within these gardens, there is a Nissen hut - a small prefabricated structure commonly used for military purposes, which is believed to have been associated with the intelligence activities carried out at the site during the war.

In addition to its historical and architectural value, the property also holds social significance for the local community. Careel House is considered the place from which the St Julian’s Scout Group originated, making it an important landmark for residents of the locality.

To view the entire list of scheduled properties, click here.