Petitions by Cottonera Inhabitants: Dock Extension and Market in 1855

Vincent Peresso is a retired Principal Education Officer, after having worked exclusively in elementary schools as a teacher, Assistant Head and then Head of School. The final work experience saw him involved in a project of School Reviews, which activity he still does on a part-time basis. Educated at the Lyceum in Hamrun, and St Michael’s Training College, Peresso acquired a Diploma in Education Administration and Management from the University of Malta. As from his younger years, he has shown interest in historical research and has written various articles especially about the town of Qormi where he now lives. Since retirement has become a keen researcher in the National Archives of Rabat, the Biblioteca in Valletta, various Parochial Archives and mostly at the Notarial Archives in Valletta. Vince Peresso is also committee member of the Malta Historical Society.

Synopsis

Sponsored by the Alfred Mizzi Foundation. When the Naval Authorities decided to construct a new dock in Cottonera they needed to demolish the old market in Cospicua. In the process they proposed to build two other markets within Cospicua. However, these new proposals did not go so well with the Cottonera inhabitants. They showed their preoccupations and concerns through a number of petitions which they addressed to Governor Sir William Reid. In this lecture, the speaker will be going through these petitions and examine in certain detail the points raised by the inhabitants of the Three Cities and the response they were given by the Government and Naval Authorities. How did this new project effect the lay out of the city and the social life of the inhabitants of Cospicua? What did they gain with the new dock project? What did they lose? HIGHLIGHT: Detailed plans of the three old markets of Cospicua will be exhibited for the first time.

Speaker: Vincent Peresso