A nation’s greatness is judged by its ability to respect and celebrate its history and heritage. We are duty-bound to pass on the heritage we inherit to our sons and daughters and the generations to come. The building frenzy that has seized our country is indolently destroying green spaces and architecturally pleasing and important edifices from foregone periods.
One such threatened building is the 19th-century English period Moynihan House in St George’s Bay. Apart from being a very good example of the architecture of its time, it is also an important piece of medical and military history.
The house was the abode of Captain Andrew Moynihan, who won a Victoria Cross for his valour, and his wife Ellen Ann née Parkin. Their son, Berkeley George Andrew Moynihan, was born in this house on October 2, 1865. Captain Moynihan died on May 19, 1866, from Malta Fever after drinking unpasteurised goats’ milk. Mrs Moynihan left Malta for Leeds in December 1867 where she settled with her childless sister, who helped look after her son and two daughters.
Young Berkeley grew up to be one of the most influential surgeons in the United Kingdom. He was Professor of Clinical Surgery at Leeds University from 1909 to 1927 and was elected president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England for six consecutive years from 1926 to 1932. He was made baronet in 1922 and was called to the House of Lords in 1929 as Baron Moynihan of Leeds. He contributed abundantly to the development of surgery.
When a few years ago a group of surgeons from England visited Malta, they enquired where Lord Moynihan was born and members of the Association of Surgeons of Malta took them to see the historic house in St George’s Bay. On the side of the house there is a white marble plaque commemorating the birthplace of this great surgeon.
Destroying Moynihan House is an act of cultural vandalism. We cannot afford to continue losing the few historical and architectural heritage buildings remaining. I sincerely hope that the people on the Planning Authority board will not want to be remembered as being complicit in this destruction, and I urge them to do their duty towards our country and save this building from obliteration.