Gwardamangia
Encyclopedia
Gwardamanġa is a hamlet in Tal-Pietà, Malta. In Gwardamanġa, one finds St. Luke's Hospital
, Malta's former general public hospital.
Also in Gwardamanġa is the Villa Gwardamanġa (also referred to as the Villa G'Manġa), a large two storey building from about 1900, best known for its elaborate porch which is reached by a flight of steps from each side. The first has a convex configuration over which is a wide elliptical arch. Scroll corbel
s support the lintels of the sides, while a square headed doorway is set in an elliptical arched recess. On top of the porch are a series of segmentally arched, louvred windows. Other features include semi-circular wrought iron
balconies on each side of the porch, louvred windows and a 'remissa' doorway. The façade lacks decoration apart from a balustraded parapet wall.
The Villa was purchased by Lord Louis Mountbatten
in about 1929. At various times between 1946 and 1953, the then Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II
, stayed at the villa while her fiancé, and later husband, The Duke of Edinburgh
was stationed in Malta as a serving Royal Navy
officer. Philip and Elizabeth lived in Malta for a period between 1949 and 1951. (Malta is the only foreign country in which the Queen has ever lived.) It has been suggested that it is here that her son Charles
was conceived. The Queen re-visited the villa during her state visit to Malta in 1992.
St. Luke's Hospital, Malta
St. Luke's Hospital , is a general hospital located on Gwardamanġia hill, in Pietà, Malta. Its foundation was laid April 5, 1930, by the Governor of Malta, John Du Cane, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Gerald Strickland....
, Malta's former general public hospital.
Also in Gwardamanġa is the Villa Gwardamanġa (also referred to as the Villa G'Manġa), a large two storey building from about 1900, best known for its elaborate porch which is reached by a flight of steps from each side. The first has a convex configuration over which is a wide elliptical arch. Scroll corbel
Corbel
In architecture a corbel is a piece of stone jutting out of a wall to carry any superincumbent weight. A piece of timber projecting in the same way was called a "tassel" or a "bragger". The technique of corbelling, where rows of corbels deeply keyed inside a wall support a projecting wall or...
s support the lintels of the sides, while a square headed doorway is set in an elliptical arched recess. On top of the porch are a series of segmentally arched, louvred windows. Other features include semi-circular wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
balconies on each side of the porch, louvred windows and a 'remissa' doorway. The façade lacks decoration apart from a balustraded parapet wall.
The Villa was purchased by Lord Louis Mountbatten
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
in about 1929. At various times between 1946 and 1953, the then Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, stayed at the villa while her fiancé, and later husband, The Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
was stationed in Malta as a serving Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer. Philip and Elizabeth lived in Malta for a period between 1949 and 1951. (Malta is the only foreign country in which the Queen has ever lived.) It has been suggested that it is here that her son Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
was conceived. The Queen re-visited the villa during her state visit to Malta in 1992.